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Tuesday, 29 April 2014

brazil 2014 fifa world cup updates

World Cup: Oliseh Predicts African Glory

Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh is convinced an African country will eventually win the FIFA World Cup, but believes poor preparations are currently a key factor in holding back development.
The former midfielder represented the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2002, helping lead the side to the Africa Cup of Nations crown in 1994 before going on to claim the gold medal at the Olympics two years later.
Oliseh, also a Bundesliga winner with Borussia Dortmund, believes teams like Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast have the potential to go far on the global stage, but insists improvements need to be made in terms of preparations if they are to have a realistic shot at the crown.
“I think an African country will eventually win the World Cup. What is lacking now, it’s simple to say; what is wrong is that we don’t plan well. We leave the planning until late,” he told CNN’s Human to Hero series.
He continued: “Africans need to learn how to start pressurizing the opponents. Football has changed now. It’s no longer football where you pick individuals and expect them to do well.
“Now it’s more about team work, team dynamics, team schemes, things that are planned out like how to look at the opponent, how to bring about antidotes to the opponent’s playing star.
“When it comes to physical strength and bursts of speed, you can’t beat an African. But what is lacking now is just that technical and tactical know-how. Then we’ll get it.”

Low-key Easter Celebration In Abuja

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Low-key Easter Celebration In Abuja

Activities in Abuja were low key on Saturday as the Easter holidays and celebrations continued, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A NAN correspondent who went round reports that this was however not unexpected, following Monday’s bomb blast which took away several lives.
There was low patronage at the motor parks and shops, while the amusement parks and gardens witnessed high patronage due to the presence of security agents.
Tony Agoma, who was about to travel out of the city, told NAN that he had tried to avoid the parks following recent happenings in the country.
He however said it had been difficult for him to get a vehicle to Gombe.
“I am considering picking a drop to Jos before it is too late for me to get to Gombe,’’ Agoma said.
He said he was avoiding the motor parks because they are “danger zones.’’
However, Ms Ele Michael, a passenger at one of the motor parks, told NAN she was travelling to Jos for the Easter break.
She expressed no fear of boarding a vehicle from the park.
“I am not scared of coming to board vehicle at the park. This is my 10th year of boarding vehicles at the park,’’ Michael said.
Officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the motor park, however, declined comments on the situation.
Drivers were however seen sleeping in their vehicles at the motor park due to the low patronage by passengers.
NAN also reports that in spite of recent security challenges in the country, some residents still expressed confidence in the security agencies.
Isioma Akpena, a resident, told NAN that her visit to the Wonderland Amusement Park was because of the high presence of the police and military men at the entrance.
“I am overwhelmed by the presence of security officials at the park. It gives me an impression of safety for people at the park,’’ she said.
Some other residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity at the Millennium Park, said they felt safe to go out because “it is the duty of government to provide security for the citizens.’’
A number of clergymen who spoke to NAN however called for peace and fear of God by citizens of the country in order for all to live in harmony.
Rev. Ochei Louis, the Vicar of the All Souls Anglican Church at ACO/AMAC Estate in Lugbe, urged Christians to show love to all men this Easter.
“Let no man put his trust in another man. Our confidence and security should be in looking towards God, in as much as government is putting in efforts to address insecurity in the country,’’ he said.
Louis urged all citizens to put their hope in God like never before and keep praying for peace.
Pastor Segun Odex, the Chairman of Bwari Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said the Easter celebration would bring Nigerians together as one.
He however urged Nigerians to imbibe the fear of God in order to celebrate the Easter in peace and not in disharmony.

15 Days After: Abducted Schoolgirls Ferried To Lake Chad

A-cross-section-of-parents-of-the-missing-schoolgirls.

15 Days After: Abducted Schoolgirls Ferried To Lake Chad

Some of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State, have been ferried around Lake Chad basin by their abductors.
A Chibok youth leader, Dr Pogu Bitrus, who stated this during an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), said there was a report that the girls were hustled to the neighbouring country.
He said, “We have a report that the sect might have divided the girls into different groups and separated them to make it impossible to get all the girls in one place.
“Since the girls were abducted from GGSS Chibok by the Boko Haram, we heard that the girls were separated. Some were detained in Sambisa Forest, some detained around Gwoza, Marte and Monguno axis.
“For almost two weeks the security forces left us in confusion regarding their glaring inability to rescue the schoolgirls and no information from the security that will calm the frustrated parents.”
Bitrus has accused the government of not doing anything possible to rescue the final-year students of GGSS Chibok, adding that even if the government is doing anything possible to rescue the girls, it is not being revealed to anybody.
The search for the missing girls was then left in the hands of their hapless parents who rented 150 commercial motorcyclists, got some volunteers with cutlasses and bows and arrows and went into the forest determined to rescue their wards or die trying.
In the end, even they were forced to abandon the search when a warning came from the terrorists that if they didn’t stop, they and their children would be killed.
When contacted, the spokesman of the state JTF, Col. Muhammad Dole, said he was not in the position to speak on the issue, and asked that the director, defence information, Brig-Gen Chris Olukolade, be contacted.
The military had earlier said that it was satisfied with the pace of its operations against Boko Haram extremists to rescue the abducted schoolgirls in Borno State.
“The morale of the soldiers is high and we are expecting to see more successes from the troops,” Olukolade said.
We seek Nigerians’ understanding – Military

The Defence Headquarters yesterday called for understanding on the abducted girls as efforts are being made to secure their freedom.
According to the spokesman of the military, Major General Chris Olukolade, every information received is under consideration.
When LEADERSHIP contacted Olukolade over the movement of the girls, he said: “The concern and anxiety from all quarters is quite understandable. Please be assured that much as the forces may not disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, every information received on the subject is duly analysed and acted upon as necessary.
“No information is being ignored in the concerted efforts to ensure the safety and freedom of the abducted girls.
“Though I may not be able to disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, I can assure you that every information received on the subject is duly analysed and acted upon as necessary.”

Chibok youths stage protest in Lagos
In a related development, youths from Kibaki community in Chibok town, where 234 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram, yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos to register their displeasure over the development
Scores of protesting youths which include women and children, under the aegis of the Lagos State chapter of Chibok Youth Association, marched to the office of the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), located in Alausa, Ikeja, area of the state.
The protesters urged Fashola to pass on their grievances to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Yahaya Chiwar said the decision to take their grievances to the Lagos State governor was borne out of his outstanding track record in the area of securing lives and property of residents of the state.
He said the group was worried that 14 days after the girls were abducted there has been no positive news from the government concerning their safety or any chance of their being rescued.
Chiwar noted that what was more alarming was that after the parents of the abducted girls took it upon themselves to conduct a search in Sambisa Forest, they located the camp where the insurgents were holding the girls and immediately reported to the appropriate authorities, but were dismayed when no action was taken.
According to him, “Our parents had no choice than to come back home to inform the security authorities where the girls were being kept, but, your excellency, their parents have communicated with us yesterday (Sunday) and there is no information whatsoever that these girls have been rescued or in the process of being rescued.
“Therefore we as their brothers, and we have sisters in Diaspora, we have resolved that we cannot remain silent; we are here because of your commitment to security of lives and properties in the state.
“We believe the nearest authority to us is you, who is the chief executive of the state; we believe we can express our grievances to you and you can forward our grievances to the relevant authorities, particularly to President Jonathan.”
While presenting a letter to Governor Fashola for onward transmission to President  Jonathan, he said, “We believe that you will help us to ensure that our voice will be heard.”
Governor Fashola, while responding in an emotion-laden voice, commended the members of the Chibok Youth Association for their courage and selflessness to stand for their daughters and sisters who were unfortunate victims of the nation’s porous security system.
The governor, who condemned the abduction of the girls, pointed out that the act of hostage-taking is unthinkable and dehumanizing.
He said, “One can only imagine the kind of horror and grief the parents of these girls must be feeling. I am a parent myself and I understand it. If my children are ill I know the kind of frustration, fear and anxiety that I go through when they are ill, not to mention indescribable emotion that the parents of these girls are going through to know whether they are alive and where they are and what conditions they might be in. Even the girls themselves — the kind of fear; it must be a traumatic experience for everyone involved.”
Fashola urged the protesters not to have the notion that nothing was being done to rescue the abducted girls, affirming that the authorities might be careful not to take steps that would harm the girls in the process of trying to rescue them.

Boko Haram: Nigeria in war situation – IGP
Meanwhile, the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, has called on all Nigerians to be more security-conscious as the country is in a war situation.
Abubakar, who spoke through the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of investigation, Mr Peter Gana, during a stakeholders’ meeting on the security situation at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, said “we are in a war situation and we need to be mobilised. We want to urge all of you to be more security-conscious”.
Abubakar said criminals including terrorists are not spirits but human beings like us. “You are our eyes in the community and you are to give the police information because we are ever there for you.
“Everyone is supposed to police wherever he lives. It is better to raise false alarm than allow the worse to happen. We are happy with the Lagos State government who has highly mobilised the police; so whenever you suspect anything, contact the police immediately.”
He advised the hospitality industry to educate their staff on security matters. “The hotel management can help us police the state by reporting .Private security operators and National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) can help us police the state by giving us information.”
The DIG who was accompanied by the assistant inspector-general of police (AIG), zone 2, Mr Mamman Tsafe, and the commissioner of police in charge of Lagos, Mr Umar Manko, said the police high command was willing to take advice from the members of the public.

Activities In Aso Villa Shift To Sambo’s House

condolence_at_sambo_house

Activities In Aso Villa Shift To Sambo’s House

The Aguda House residence of vice president Namadi Sambo in Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, has been a beehive of activities as visitors thronged in to condole with him over the death of his younger brother, Yusuf.
Yusuf, a 58-year-old pilot died on Sunday in a ghastly autocrash on the Abuja Airport Road just when the vice president was returning from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where he represented President Goodluck Jonathan at that country’s golden jubilee anniversary.
President Jonathan had on his arrival from his home state, Bayelsa, on Sunday paid a condolence visit to Sambo in his Akinola Aguda House official residence inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The development came just as Senate President David Mark, Speaker House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Governors Forum, condoled with Sambo over the death of his younger brother.
The president’s wing and that of the VP looked almost deserted yesterday, as eminent Nigerians who visited the place went to the vice president’s residence to commiserate with him instead.
Sambo received male sympathisers inside one of the big halls in his house, while his wife, Hajiya Amina attended to female visitors in her own chamber.
Special prayers were offered by different groups that visited the place for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for the bereaved family.
The visitors included state governors, leaders and members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, leaders of the ongoing National Conference and security chiefs.
Among the governors who visited were Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Idris Wada (Kogi), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and James Ngilari (deputy governor, Adamawa).
Speaking to journalists after offering his condolences, Akpabio said Yusuf’s death was a sad development for the country, even as he described the deceased as a diligent pilot who trained several younger ones.
He said, “It is unfortunate but we believe that God gives and takes. We pray that God will give the President and Vice President the fortitude to bear the loss. It is a loss to the entire nation and indeed his immediate family led by the Vice President.”
APC Condoles With Sambo
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commiserated with vice president Namadi Sambo on the death of his younger brother in a road crash in Abuja.
A statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed shock and sadness at the death of such a vibrant personality in such a tragic circumstance.
“Death is never easy to accept, and when it is so unexpected, it adds to the grief. But the sweet memories and good deeds of the departed will always be a balm to sooth the indescribable pain of death.
“We sincerely sympathise with the vice president, the immediate family of the departed as well as his extended family. We pray that God will strengthen and comfort them all in this difficult time,’’ it said.

'My uncle has been sleeping with me since 2013' 12yr old girl reveals

'My uncle has been sleeping with me since 2013' 12yr old girl reveals

Anthony Wayas (pictured left) a resident of Finima community in Bonny LGA of Rivers State has been accused by his 12 year old niece of having sex with her since 2013, Tribune reports.
 
Anthony, who is the brother to the girl's father took responsibility for her after her father passed away when she was just a year old. By the time she turned 12, he started having sex with her.
 
His evil act came to light on Monday April 21 after the girl told her neighbour what her uncle was doing to her. The neighbour then told another neighbor who told the youth leader in the community and Anthony was accosted in his home where he was badly beaten and had to be rescued by the police. Continue...
Narrating what happened to Tribune, the little girl said
"Uncle Anthony is a father to me. He is my father’s brother. My father is dead and my mother is in our village at Adamawa State, married to another man now. I don’t go to school. I finished Primary 6 and was supposed to start JSS1 but I was not sent to secondary school by my uncle. I usually stay at home to do house chores. I would then take my cousins to school and come back home to work. I would go back to the school in the afternoon to pick them. My  Uncle started sleeping with me in 2013. How it happened was that he would leave for work in the morning and come back in the afternoon while his wife is away at work where she works as a cleaner. He would take the children to the big room, asking them to stay there, and would take me to the small room. He would remove my pant and push me on the bed. He would then remove his trousers and bring out his manhood. He would then put it inside me and sleep with me. I can’t count the number of times it has happened. When I told the wife, she threatened to return me to our village. On Saturday, April 19, my uncle asked me to mix hot and cold water for him to take his bath. He took the bucket to the bathroom and asked me to bring his sponge to him. As I took the sponge to him, he dragged me into the bathroom and had sex with me. There were people in the house but he warned me not to shout.  The following morning, I told one woman in our compound. She, in turn, told someone and when the person interviewed me, he called in the Finima youths. I am surprised that my uncle is denying.” she said
Anthony denied the accusation made by the little girl saying he has suffered erectal dysfunctional for a long time due to a sexually transmitted disease he suffered sometime ago.
"I am surprised at what she said that I was having sex with her because it is not true. I have a problem with my manhood which has resulted in my inability to make love to a woman. I have not been experiencing erection at all. I was told by my doctor that it was caused by syphilis that I once had. He said the sexually transmitted disease was not well treated when I had it. It also resulted in my having zero sperm in my semen which the doctor said would not make me have a baby. I was given Proviron to boost my sperm count.” he said.
Anthony's wife, who the girl accused as an accomplice, says her husband has sexual challenges and that Karen never told her of her husband's sexual advances
"We have been married for 14 years but, initially, my husband had low sperm count. He married another woman after me but we got pregnant at the same time after several prayers. I have a child and the other woman has two. She has left and I am the one taking care of her children with mine. Karen is my husband’s niece. She came to us after her father died and she was just about a year old then. I am confused about the whole issue because my husband had been having weak erection for over a year and had not been able to make love to me. We sought medical help and the doctor recommended some drugs.  Since the drugs are expensive, we have resorted to prayers. I am not defending my husband but I don’t understand how he was able to have sexual relationship with  the girl with his current condition. And Karen did not inform me as she claimed. If she did, I would have admitted it,” the wife said.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident and says investigation is currently going on and if he is found guilty, he would be charged to court.

Mother of girl brutalized by drunk policeman lands in psychiatric care

Mother of girl brutalized by drunk policeman lands in psychiatric care

The grieving mother of Funmilayo Adebayo who was brutalized by a drunken policeman in Lagos last December landed in psychiatric care last Thursday, family sources told SaharaReporters at the weekend.

The video clip of the horrible incident recently went viral on the Internet, showing a drunk policeman who was subsequently identified as Tafa Mohammed, brutalizing 2 women at Lewis Street, in Lagos.

Family sources said the mental state of Bose Williams deteriorated following the incident last Dec. Although she was said to have developed prior symptoms in 2007, her children said her condition was under control until she saw the video of Mohammed’s brutalization of her daughter. Continue...



The sources said that since that time, Mrs. Williams always displayed pictures of the incident next to her pillow, sobbing.

His eldest son, Segun Adebayo confirmed that his mother had found it impossible to remove images of the incident from her head, and suggested that the horrific incident escalated her ill-health.
Early on Thursday morning, she was said to have repeatedly mumbled to herself about the incident until she left her room to go and sit outside in the rain.  She was then taken away for psychiatric care in Yaba, Lagos.

Mobile policeman Mohammed, of Unit #20 in Lagos, was discreetly filmed by a citizen video photographer, reportedly in December 2013, beating up a street food vendor.

Witnesses said her offence was that the vendor had refused to sell fish to him because it was the policy to sell the fish with food, which he was not buying.

The policeman, who was reeking of alcohol, according to the witnesses, took on both the vendor and another female customer who was buying food from the same vendor at the time, tossing the customer into a nearby pond of putrid water. Two women are involved in the story here: vendor and customer, Funmilayo Adebayo. 

At a point in the report, Mohammed is seen pointing his rifle at one of the women.  A second policeman appears to support him and they both threaten witnesses with their weapons, with the back-up firing shots into the air to show he was not joking.

The incident is said to have resulted in internal injuries for  Funmilayo, whose mother now also seems to have been pushed off the edge into serious mental health issues. Her current condition is unknown.

Culled from Sahara Reporters...

Daddy Freeze Rolex Presidential spotted at Club Ultimate

Daddy Freeze Rolex Presidential spotted at Club Ultimate

Like we said guys, Gulder Cub Ultimate keeps bringing in the big names! Last weekend, we spotted Daddy Freeze wearing his Rolex Presidential at the biggest clubbing event in the history of the “Coal City”. This is actually the same one Jay Z rapped about “The big face rollie, I got two of those”

Opa Williams' Nite of a Thousand Laughs will hold May 1 in Abuja

Opa Williams' Nite of a Thousand Laughs will hold May 1 in Abuja

Opa Williams' Nite of a thousand laughs 2014 will hold in Abuja May 1st at the Ladi kwali Hall at Sheraton, Abuja. Time: 5pm. Tickets - regular - N4,000, VIP N10,000, Table for for 8 - N250,000.

Ticket available at xclusive stores, Yankeetech, Sherriff plaza, Chicken capitol, Drumstix and The Bank. Comedians to perform are Gordons, Gandoki, Funny Bone, Akpororo, Klint Da Drunk and Acapella. Music by Kcee and Harry Song. See the trailer after the cut...

Caroline Danjuma confirms pregnancy news

Caroline Danjuma confirms pregnancy news

I told y'all yesterday that Caroline Danjuma is expecting her third child with her husband of over 9 years, Musa Danjuma. She just confirmed the news. Big congrats to her...

'Why I don't live with my husband' - Ronke Oshodi Oke

'Why I don't live with my husband' - Ronke Oshodi Oke

Yoruba actress Ronke Ojo popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke, has explained why she and her husband don't live together...despite the fact that they both live in Lagos. Ronke's husband, Anthony Gbolahan, who she married in January 2009, lives in Surulere, while Ronke lives in Ijaiye, Lagos. Explaining the arrangement, Ronke said the reason she doesn't live in Surulere with her husband is because the area is too populated. She refuted reports that they live apart because their marriage is in trouble...
"If you have a partner or spouse who is your friend, you will understand each other very well. Fine, I am a reserved person and on the other hand I am also into showbiz. So for me to manage these things, you have to be in a reserved person. For instance when you are going out or coming in, nobody knows your movement. Secondly I am friendly but I don't really like crowd. My husband likes Surulere, he is a Surulere person. I like surburbs like Abule-Egba, Ijaiye area and so on. So both of us know how to manage the situation. Continue...
Whenever I say I am going to Surulere, I just go there to catch fun, see people and things I love to see. But the fact remains even if I am in Surulere, people don't really know I am there because I don't go out. I am not an outgoing person. Most of the events you see me, its either I am invited as a Master of Ceremony or the celebrant is my friend. Anytime I don't go out and I am not on set, I go to my husband's place in Surulere and he understands me very well. All these kidnappings here and there, one needs to be very careful. When they kidnap your child and they say they need ransom, what would you do? So we know how we manage the situation. He also comes to Ijaiye where I live. That's where my mum lives" she said.
When asked if her marriage was in trouble as being speculated, she responded;
"There is nothing wrong with my marriage. That's how people are just feeling. Recently City People magazine celebrated me. I received an award. My husband was there with me. So if there was anything wrong with our union, would he be there? Things like that you can't hide them from the public. I just believe people only like fabricating issues for whatever reason or reasons best known to them" she said

Wow! Check out footballer Dani Alves' incredible response to racism

Monday, April 28, 2014

Wow! Check out footballer Dani Alves' incredible response to racism

Barcelona star Dani Alves responded to a racist taunt in the most incredible way during a match yesterday Sunday April 27th

While playing for his team against Villareal, a spectator threw a banana at him as he tried to take a corner kick. What do you think Dani did? He casually picked up the banana, peeled it, eat the banana, threw away the peel, and then completed the kick...

This move has left many people in shock and Dani is getting a lot of praise for how he handled it.

This is not the first time the Brazilian footballer will face racism on the pitch. He complained about it last year after being taunted by monkey chants from sections of the crowd during a match at Real Madrid.
Racism in football is becoming an issue in Europe and enough is not being done to stop it. Dani is a star! Hopefully, he made the person who threw the banana feel like stupid!

Photos: Rihanna poses topless in racy new shoot for Vogue Brazil

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Photos: Rihanna poses topless in racy new shoot for Vogue Brazil

Rihanna looks incredibly stunning in the May issue of Vogue Brazil. The singer stripped down for the mag a while back but pics from the photo shoot were recently released. See more pics after the cut.


APC Chieftain who battered wife arrested by Sagamu police

APC Chieftain who battered wife arrested by Sagamu police

The APC chieftain, Bashorun Bayo Awosanya, who battered his wife at their residence in Sagamu on Easter Sunday April 20th (read here) after an argument was arrested yesterday April 28th by the Ogun State police command.
"The suspect personally reported himself to the Sagamu Divisional Police Officer, CSP Lawal Adebowale, around 0800hrs due to arrest warrants issued and pressure mounted on him to show up before he would be publicly declared wanted by the police" the PPRO of the Ogun State Command in a statement.
He was later transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation for further questioning. Ogun State police say they plan to charge him to court.

If you have a violent husband, you can actually get him arrested and locked up. Nigerian police now take domestic violence serious. If your spouse bribe their way out of an arrest, contact NGOs that cater for battered women and they will take up your case. Domestic violence needs to stop!

Monday, 28 April 2014

How former Edo Governor, Igbinedion, lost N3.3billion to Venezuelan conmen

Monday, April 28, 2014

How former Edo Governor, Igbinedion, lost N3.3billion to Venezuelan conmen

Found this investigative report on Premium Times ...very interesting. Read below...
Mr. Igbinedion, who stole his state blind while he was governor, has now been scammed of billions by Venezuelan fraudsters in a classic 419 deal
Nemesis may have finally caught up with ex-convict and former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, as he has lost over N3.3 billion to Venezuelan fraudsters, in a deal that bears all the marks of a classic 419 scam, Premium Times can authoritatively reveal.
Court documents seen by Premium Times also suggest that Mr. Igbinedion may be insolvent, as two US-based law firms have walked away from a $600 million lawsuit he instituted against the alleged mastermind and the Venezuelan state owned oil company, Petroleos De Venezuela S.A (PDVSA), over his inability to pay retainer as low as  N627,000.00 ($3,800.00).
Mr. Igbinedion plundered Edo State treasury for the eight years he was governor. He escaped jail after he reached a controversial plea bargain agreement with the Farida Waziri-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which dropped all but one of the 191 charges of corruption and money laundering against him.

In 2008, a Federal High Court in Enugu sentenced him to six months in prison with the option of a N3.5 million fine. The controversial plea bargain agreement he reached with the EFCC also required that he return N500 million and three of the houses he acquired with stolen public funds to the Federal Government.

But it’s not yet Uhuru for Mr. Igbinedion as the Court of Appeal in Benin ruled on April 9, 2014 that he has a case to answer over a fresh 66-count money laundering and financial impropriety suit brought against him by the EFCC. A Federal High Court had ruled in 2011 that it would amount to double jeopardy and abuse of court process to try him again after the plea bargain he entered with the EFCC.

He has been accused of stealing over N3 billion from Edo State’s treasury.

Classic 419-scam
In 2006, looking to cash in on the lucrative but fraud-tainted fuel importation business, the ex-governor’s front and Managing Director of Skanga Energy and Marine Limited, a company formed by Mr. Igbinedion and his brother, Bright, in 1992, Christian Imoukhuede, approached the then Venezuelan Trade Consul to Nigeria, Enrique Arrundell, about the prospect of importing petrol, aviation fuel, and diesel from the South American country.

According to documents filed with a US District Court in New York, Mr. Arrundell advised Mr. Imoukhuede that the best way to get fuel was to go through a PDVSA approved agent.
Mr. Arrundell then introduced Mr. Imoukhuede to Arevenca, a fraudulent firm owned by alleged notorious Venezuelan conman, Francisco Gonzalez.

That meeting with Mr Gonzalez marked the beginning of Mr Igbinedion’s woes.
Mr. Igbinedion and his front, Mr. Imoukhuede claimed in court that they did due diligence checks on Arevenca through the Venezuelan embassy in Abuja. They claim that embassy officials confirmed Arevenca as a reputable Venezuelan business concern and validated documents provided by Arevenca that supposedly showed a relationship with PDVSA.

But it has since turned out that Arevenca might be a complete fraud. PDVSA has since said in court that it has no records of any relationship with Arevenca.

Arevenca is a registered corporation under Venezuelan law but was most recently headquartered in Aruba. Its subsidiaries are: Arevenca AKTM, registered in British Virgin Islands; Arevenca SL, registered in Spain; and Arevenca Aruba Holding NV.

Others are Arevenca Bank, Arevenca Foundation, Fly Aruba Suriname, Arevenca Mining and Arevenca Petroleum Company registered in offshore tax haven, Suriname. There is Arevenca Finances Holding registered in Switzerland and Arevenca Ivory Coast.

Many of these subsidiaries are shell companies or exist only in names.

A Canadian-based freelance journalist, Steven Bodzin, who worked as an energy reporter in Venezuela and has written a number of exposés on Arevenca, revealed that Arevenca’s website is a repository of mind-numbing lies meant to hoodwink mostly unsuspecting international investors.
For instance, on its website, Arevenca claims to have a global refining capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day and plans to build a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast.

It also claims to have a fleet of 72 ships.

However, the company with the highest refining capacity in the world as at September 2013, Reliance Jamnagar Refinery, India, has a refining capacity of only 1.24 million barrels per day.

In fact, Arevenca is not listed among the top ten refineries in the world. The only Venezuela-based refinery in the top 10, Paraguana Refining Centre, belongs to PDVSA and has a processing capacity of just 955,000bpd.

And despite claiming to have 75 vessels, a PREMIUM TIMES search on Lloyds Ship Directories shows that Arevenca does not operate from any of Venezuelan’s 16 ports. There is also no proof that the company is building a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast as it claimed.
These are just few of the web of lies contained in Arevenca’s website. Other false claims made by the company to defraud investors can be found on Mr. Bodzin’s blog.

In October 2006, Mr. Imoukhuede, who was Mr. Igbinedion’s schoolmate, arrived at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas and was ushered into the VIP lounge of the facility and later given a luxury ride to the exquisite InterContinental Tamanaco, rated among the top three hotels in the country.
It was at Intercontinental Tamanaco that Mr. Imoukhuede had initial negotiation with Mr. Gonzalez and an unnamed Nigerian.

After the meeting, Skanga reached a tentative agreement to buy “petroleum products” from Arevenca. Arevenca also agreed to give Skanga the first right of refusal to buy its AGO (diesel), PMS (premium motor spirit) DPK (kerosene), Jet Al fuel, Bitumen and Fuel oil.
The deal was to take off with a 35,000 metric tones of AGO in the first instance and then grow into about three cargoes monthly, according to an official statement by Skanga.

Bank transfer documents show that Skanga paid $1.05 million of the $1.4 million cost of freight.
Skanga’s officials claimed during interrogation in court that their company made these payments ($580,000 and $470,000) based on the proof of certain “inducement documents which included an alleged PDVSA bill of lading.

After Skanga made these initial payments, it became trapped. The duping of the former governor and his corrupt clan began in full swing.

Igbinedion goes to Caracas
In January 2007, four months before the expiration of his governorship term, Mr. Igbinedion travelled to Caracas, ostensibly on an official visit and possibly lavishing Edo state money on the deal.  But our investigations indicate the visit was to put finishing touches to the deal earlier reached by his front three months earlier.

According to the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN), Mr. Igbinedion and his entourage were purportedly met by some of the influential “Chavista” politicians in the country, as supporters of the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chávez, are called: the Mayor of Central Caracas, Freddy Bernal, the Governor of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa, Reinaldo Bolívar as well as other top Venezuelan government officials and businessmen.

It was an elaborate event accompanied by lavish photo op, expensive alcohol and dinner in the evening at the “Gran Melia Hotel, another top three luxury hotel in Venezuela, according to luxury hotel reservations website, Five Star Alliance.

Mr. Igbinedion was handed the key to the city of Caracas and announced as the “Alcaldía de Libertador”, the honorary Mayor of the central Caracas borough of Libertador. He also held a meeting with top officials of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry at their headquarters, the Yellow House.

But the whole fanfare was a grand charade and part of a well orchestrated confidence trick put together by some of the most devious conmen in Latin America.
It later appeared that Mr. Gonzalez received an intensive course on Nigerian niceties.  Emails from Mr. Arrundell and Gonzalez to Mr. Igbinedion have that uniquely Nigerian informality. Rather than write in a formal manner as one would have expected of parties in a multi-million dollar deal, they addressed Mr. Igbinedion as “My brother Lucky” or “Dear brother Lucky.”
One letter by Mr. Gonzalez, filled with grammatical errors, reads:
Dear brother lucky
I already send the dignity signed invoice.
You know what this mean.
Nobody do this, but I always honored my word, agins all the logical and normal status.
I prefer died that do not honored my word.
This is another demonstration that I am a honor man.
That mean that the product is yours.
I trust you like a brother I hope you do not let me down.
I do not want disappoint you, I hope you do not disappoint me.
Best regards, 
You brother and friend
Francisco JAvier Gonzalez
The geniality of Mr. Gonzalez’s letters coupled with the grand reception, some would say deception, he got during his “official” visit to Caracas apparently made Mr. Igbinedion even more trusting of the Venezuelan gang.

Nigerian thief, money launderer, is scammed
After a couple of other meetings later that year, Arevenca made Skanga a deal too good to be true: a consignment of 35,000 metric tonnes of diesel will be sent to Skanga.

All it needed to do was to prepay the charges for delivery and complete the full payment for the delivery in three months.

Mr. Igbinedion could not believe his luck. Skanga promptly transferred $19.6 million more to Arevenca’s Swiss bank account as freight charges and partial payment for two consignments of Petrol and diesel aboard two vessels named “Digniti” and “Ventur.”
The vessels never arrived.
The Nigerian Port Authority said it does not have any record of “Digniti” or “Ventur” entering Nigerian waters at the time it was billed to arrive.

In fact, PREMIUM TIMES investigation reveals that there are no vessels named “Dignitii” or “Ventur”.
Searches on Lloyds directories and other ship directories show that the ship don’t exist anywhere in the world.

All efforts made to contact the Venezuelan embassy to confirm the extent to which Mr. Arrundell, who has been posted out of the country, was involved in the scam was unsuccessful.
The embassy’s phone number seems to be out of order and emails were returned as undelivered.
Mr. Imoukhuede declined to comment when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. He explained that since the case is in court, Skanga’s lawyer was in the best position to make public comments on the matter.

“You know the case is in court. I don’t think I am at ease to talk about it. I would have to talk to the lawyer. I can’t make any comment. The Nigerian legal system is different from the American system. The best thing is to talk to Femi Salu,” he said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The remaining parts in this series will look at courtroom intrigues; how two of Igbinedion’s American counsel abandoned the case due to his inability to pay their retainer.
A part will look at the role played by MRS Oil Nigeria Limited plus interesting revelations in court while another will take a look at the role of the Venezuelan authorities in the entire scam.

Women to stage one-million march in Abuja over abducted girls

Monday, April 28, 2014

Women to stage one-million march in Abuja over abducted girls

Nigerian women would on Wednesday April 30th in Abuja stage a one-million-women march tagged "Free our girls" to press for the release of the schoolgirls that were abducted from Girls Government college in Chibok, Borno state on Monday April 14th.
 
The call for the protest was made during an emergency meeting put together by the Borno state first lady, Hajia Nana Kashim Shettima, yesterday. Coordinator of the protest Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu said the march is expected to involve every woman in the country.
"The last time, we were in black but this time around the colour for the Abuja rally is red; so we should all be prepared and mobilize ourselves for the rally”, she said
Earlier on at the meeting, the first lady amids sobs called on all women to join in efforts to free the abducted girls and also called on wives of heads of Security agents, some of whom were present at the meeting to help plead with their spouses to intensify their efforts in the search for the girls 
"I want to use this opportunity to appeal to wives of security chiefs at the national and state levels to mount pressures on their spouses to intensify effort to rescue our dear children. However, I feel it is necessary to call on all women in Borno to come up with their resolutions and harmonize them. Let us all put our differences aside irrespective of our faith, or ethnicity, let us all join hands together to rescue these girls, I know that we can do it, Almighty Allah is with us, He knows our intention. I am sure for now we are not on our own, I am happy to inform you that the wife of the president called me two days ago, I believe that she is also with us, let us all join hands together irrespective of political affiliations.” she said
Meanwhile, Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade says the military is getting closer to the Boko Haram base where the girls are being kept. He said this yesterday during a tour with journalist to some of Boko Haram bases where the military has been able to dismantle.
"The bases we visited are part of the responses to the terrorist offensive and that is an achievement; the military had moved close to where the insurgents are. It shows that the military had taken over the land. The morale of the soldiers was high, and we are expecting to see more successes from the troops” he said.

Yes! magazine replies Harrysong, insists he did say his parents are siblings

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Yes! magazine replies Harrysong, insists he did say his parents are siblings

Yes! Magazine quoted singer Harrysong as saying his parents are siblings in an interview with them a while back. Harrysong released a statement some days ago denying he ever made the comment. The magazine editors have now released their own statement insisting that he did say it.
Our attention has been drawn to a very disparaging comment from Harrysong, an up and coming artiste over an interview we conducted with him at Kcee's Omole Phase 2, Ikeja, Lagos home. 
As a responsible medium, Yes International! had wanted to ignore him and his deliberate act of mischief. But on a second thought, we decided otherwise, because in our considered opinion, it will be suicidal to disregard the young man's insinuations and cheap blackmail. However, we are also not unaware of Harrysong's ignorance and this again is a restraining factor on our side. Continue
So, we wish to inform Harrysong and people like him that a print medium or any organization for that matter that deals in news has a right to stagger any interview. What is giving him sleepless nights is the content of the interview which very few people will be proud of. But he did not speak under duress. So, we are wondering what prompted this sudden outburst and antagonism. More so, when he applauded the interview at the time it was first used on the cover of our magazine. 
 
For the records, it is important to state that this controversial interview resurfaced because our website crashed and in rebuilding it, we are uploading our lost materials. In addition, we wish to inform Harrysong that the original tape is still intact and if he wishes to listen to his voice one more time, he is free to drop by at our Budland, Ikeja, Lagos office. Likewise any other person.

Photos: Banky W plays with Dolphins in Dubai

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Photos: Banky W plays with Dolphins in Dubai

The best man at yesterday's star studded wedding shared the pics on his instagram page. How cute. You would have to lace my drink, bind me, blindfold me and gag me to get me this close to a dolphin. I know they are adorable, gentle and friendly, but thank you very much, I'm not that adventurous...lol

Photos: Rihanna goes braless at basketball game

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Photos: Rihanna goes braless at basketball game

Oh Riri. She really couldn't be bothered with bras. The singer went bra-less at the Barclays Center in NY on Friday. She wore a semi-sheer vest without a bra and was very comfortable sitting on the front row...with all eyes on her titties. See more pics after the cut...




Child killer/rapist tortured and raped in prison in Brazil by 20 men

Monday, April 28, 2014

Child killer/rapist tortured and raped in prison in Brazil by 20 men

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor named Daryell Dickson Meneses Xavier was reportedly beaten and raped by 20 men after he was locked up for allegedly killing and possibly raping his girlfriend's 1year 11 months old son (pictured with him left) in Taguatinga, suburb of Brasilia, Brazil in Sept 2013.

According to local media, trouble started for the man after his girlfriend left him alone with her son. A few hours later, he called his girlfriend claiming the boy fell and was having seizures. The child was rushed to the hospital and died two days later. Doctors who didn't believe the boy fell called the police and told them they suspected foul play because the injuries on the boy wasn't consistent with a fall but with blunt trauma, and also said possible sexual abuse was involved.
Doctors concluded there was blunt trauma and that the child also had a fissure in the anus. Fissure could come from sexual abuse or constipation but the boy's mum said he didn't have constipation.

Daryell was immediately arrested and charged with abusing and killing the boy, an accusation he vehemently denied. Then he went to prison and other prisoners who had heard what he did, came for him. (See the anus area in the right pic above?) Continue...



According to local media reports, prisoners who were furious about the crime he committed against a child descended on Xazier and took turns violently raping him in prison. He was also brutally assaulted. He was saved by prison guards after hours of torture, who removed him from the facility. He was treated and kept in prison hospital for weeks so he could recover.

When he recovered a little, they returned him to the prison and once again...the prisoners descended on him. They tore open the stitches on her back, stabbed him some more and raped him again.

Xavier has since been removed from the Wansbeck, DF prison and taken to another prison...

You think he got what he deserved?