[Photos] photos of the world tallest man's wedding

The world's tallest man has married - and his
new bride barely reaches his waist.
At 5'8" Merve Dibo isn't a particularly short
lady, but next to her giant groom Sultan
Kosen, who looms at an enormous 8'3", she
looks positively tiny.
Turkish farmer Sultan, who has size 28 feet, is
almost three feet taller than his blushing bride.
Sultan, who also holds the Guinness World
Record for the biggest hands and feet, said he
had given up on his quest to find love until he
met Merve.
The gentle giant said: "How unfortunate I
could not find a suitable girl of my own size.
My fiancee is over 1.75 meters tall, but I
believe I've found the person for me."
The previous holder of the tallest person
honours was China's Bao Xishun who was 'only'
7'9".
At the Guinness World Records show in 2010,
Sultan got to meet his counterpart at the other
end of the height scale, the late He Pingping
who was just 2'5".

Woman Jailed For 10 Years After Beating Houseboy to death

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Monday
sentenced  27 years  old Mrs. Chiamaka
Nnajiofor to 10 years imprisonment for
flogging her house maid to death.
The court commuted the murder charge
preferred against the woman to
manslaughter, while it discharged and
acquitted her 41-year-old husband,
Elochukwu Nnajiofor.
They had both pleaded not guilty to the
murder charge preferred against them by
the Lagos State Directorate of Public
Prosecution.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu, in her judgment on
Monday, ruled that Chiamaka’s sentence
would commence from the day she was
arraigned along with her husband on
September 22, 2011.
The couple was charged with murder for
beating their 14-year-old houseboy, Oliver
Arakwe, to death on August 17, 2010.
The incident was said to have occurred at
the couple’s residence at 81, Femi Tella
Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.
Delivering her judgment, Okunnu held that
the prosecution, led by Mr. Femi Adamson,
had failed to connect Elochukwu with the
alleged crime with the various testimonies
and exhibits that were before the court.
Okunnu held, “The evidential burden against
the second defendant is very weak. There is
nothing to show that he was part of the
flogging his wife instigated that day and
available evidence indicated that he was not
in the apartment when it happened.”
The judge also held that that the prosecution
was unable to prove the charge of murder
against the two of them.

Tonye Okio: President Jonathan’s Critic Has Been Arrested

Sir Tonye Okio, a noted critic of President
Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Henry
Dickson of Bayelsa State, has been arrested.
According to publicly available information,
Mr. Okio was arrested on Saturday April 28,
by officials of the Special Investigation
Bureau (SIB) of the Nigeria Police and
summarily taken to Yenagoa, where he is
being detained in solitary confinement
over his comments --- comments deemed
critical of poor governance, corruption, and
the hubris and excesses of government
officials.
On Facebook and other social media, Tonye
Okio wrote extensively about the need for
moderation, accountability, and the human
and infrastructural development of the
country.
He was also very active on the Ijaw Nation
Forum (a forum for Ijaw worldwide) where
he championed the plight of the
downtrodden and vigorously condemned
the searing poverty and underdevelopment
of the Niger Delta.
What brought him to the attention of the
Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and
other security and intelligence services, was
his constant but honest criticism of President
Jonathan and Governor Dickson.
That he is from the same region/state with
the President did not dissuade him from
speaking the truth, or be less critical of
wrongs and the rut that has come to
characterize his home state and country.
In addition to being a torn on the flesh of the
President, many see his arrest as part of the
“house-cleaning exercise” by the Goodluck
Jonathan camp. This argument is plausible
because Mr. Okio is an ally of Governor
Timipre Sylva. In today’s Bayelsa State, many
known allies and supporters of Chief Sylva are
being persecuted.
According to the information found on the
pages of the Nigerian Current website, this is
the chronology of events as they happened:
On Saturday, October 26, about 15 men,
including plain-clothes Special Investigation
Bureau (SIB) officials and those attached to
the Police Mobile Force (otherwise known as
kill-and-go Police), invaded the Abuja
residence of Tonye Okio in three vehicles (one
Prado Jeep and two Police Escort vans) and
forcefully seized him. Thereafter, they took
his iPad and the mobile phones of himself and
his younger sister;
After getting their target, he was taken to the
headquarters of the Abuja Command of the
Nigeria Police. He stayed with his abductors
who claimed they were trying to arrange a
flight to take him to Yenagoa via Port
Harcourt International Airport.
When the flight arrangement failed, the police
decided to take Tonye by road. They left Abuja
about 4:00 pm Saturday and arrived Yenagoa
about 1:00 am on Sunday, October 27. He
was taken straight to the State Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) of the Nigeria
Police where he is being detained illegally;
The Police authorities claim that Tonye Okio
will be charged for allegedly writing on his
Facebook page recently that an unnamed
South-South Governor was recently caught in
the US with 5 million USD. Tonye denies the
charge;
Since his detention, Sir Okio has been
denied access to visitors. Police sources
say they have been given stern
instructions by the Bayelsa State Police
Commissioner Hillary Opara, to deny that
Tonye Okio is at the State CID;
In addition to the regular police that man the
gates of the State CID, the surroundings have
been taken over by Mobile Police men,
numbering about 10, apparently because of
the high value detainee;
In the recent past, Professor Okey Ndibe, a
noted public intellectual was detained in
Nigeria for doing what democracy, decency
and patriotism demands of him. Since Okey
Ndibe was first harassed, many critics and
public intellectuals have been warned to
desist in their criticism of President
Jonathan and his administration.
We also know this to be the case in
Bayelsa State where Governor Henry
Seriake Dickson, Jonathan’s surrogate and
apologist, have been harassing and
tormenting critics and opponents. This is a
state where everyone must toe the line.
Dissension is not allowed. Critics and
criticism are not welcomed.
President Jonathan and Governor Henry
Dickson must stop this idea that “You are
either for us or against us.” Persecuting
and prosecuting critics must stop. Sending
“attack dogs” after opponents must stop.
Investigating and spreading lies against
perceived opponents and critics must also
stop. In other words, private and public
witch-hunting by government and its
agents must stop.
If Tonye Okio abridged the law, then, charge
and prosecute him before a legally constituted
court of law. Even so, the rule of law must
not be personalized. We are however
confident – very confident -- that he is being
intimidated and terrorized because of his
politics.
Power is fleeting, it is transient. It is
therefore futile and reckless to get drunk on
power. And so we call on President Jonathan
and Governor Dickson to commence the
immediate release of Sir Tonye Okio. If law
abiding citizens like Mr. Okio are being
harassed and illegally detained, then, no one
can be safe from the tyranny and ruthlessness
of the state and or federal government.

Aliyu Denies Leaving New PDP by Usbeel

Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu
Babangida Aliyu has denied the lead report
in the Daily Trust of Tuesday October 29,
2013, that he pulled out of the group of
seven ( G-7) governors and the new PDP,
saying he remains the leader of the G-7.
The Daily Trust yesterday carried a report
quoting an unnamed source close to the
governor as revealing that the governor has
chosen to leave the fold of the new PDP
quietly to return to the Bamanga Tukur-led
PDP.
Following yesterday’s denial by the governor
which claimed that the Daily Trust report
was a lie, the paper has revealed that the
information contained in its lead report of
Tuesday was actually from the media aide to
the governor, Danladi Ndayebo, who on
Monday told our reporter with express
approval that it should be reported that the
governor is leaving the fold of the new PDP.
Daily Trust had reported the story based on
the reliability of the source, supposing that
such a revelation could not only be
authentic and true but can only be given out
with the full consent of the governor.
Ndayebo reliably informed our
correspondent that Gov. Aliyu had pulled out
of the new PDP saying the governor had
succumbed to pressure from PDP
stakeholders and in order to save his
political career which was being threatened
by the adventure with the leadership of the
nPDP. The spokesman said that the governor
has been under pressure from stalwarts of
the ruling party, including the Chairman of
the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony
Anenih, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and one-
time Director General of the Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA), Mr Ben Bruce
who met him at different times to plead with
him to return to the party.
Governor Aliyu yesterday while playing host
to the national president and other leaders
of the Nigeria Civil Service Union in his
office in Minna, described the Daily Trust
report as an enemy action sponsored to
break the ranks of the G-7 governors.
He said: “I woke up this morning with a rude
shock that a newspaper that can call me at
anytime to confirm a report would file such
a report because I was not in a meeting. The
paper went to town saying I have pulled out
of G-7.
“The truth of the matter is that Babangida
Aliyu is still a member and in fact, I am the
leader of G-7.
“I regard that write-up as an enemy action.
It was planted by people who are interested
in breaking our ranks and who try to input
motives where there are none. I see the
hands of some people I can identify to have
sponsored this article. I urge people not to
make policies relating to all they read in the
papers as some of these articles are
sponsored.”
Aliyu said his absence from the Sunday
meeting of the G-7 was not intentional and
explained that he was absent partly because
of the shift of the time of the meeting and
his ill-health and that his colleagues were
adequately informed and apologies sent
through three governors and wondered why
his absence at the meeting could be
misconstrued to mean he is pulling out of
the group.
“On that day, I did not plan to leave Minna
until 2pm since the meeting was slated for
8pm, then I got a call that the Sokoto State
governor had requested a shift in time
because he had a programme the next day
on the opening of the state university and he
requested that the meeting is shifted from
8pm to 2pm.
“So I sent an apology because there was no
way I could meet up with them since I was
still in Minna by 2pm. I spoke to three of my
colleagues and asked them to help me
tender my apologies especially as I was not
feeling too well but I had intended to travel.
When other of my colleagues were not
around, I attended meetings on their behalf,
I don’t see why my absence would be
conjured to mean I have pulled out of the
G7”, Aliyu explained.
He also said: “This is not the time for
anyone to pull out of the party when out of
respect for the office of the President and
the President himself, we are discussing.
There is no way you can wake up and say
you are pulling out when you are already
negotiating. You cannot pull out at this
moment. The time for decision to be taken
will be when we have concluded discussions
with the President.
“After the conclusion and agreement at the
end of the discussions, those who may be
satisfied with the outcome will take their
decision, the same with those not satisfied
with the outcome. Despite anyone’s decision,
we will still remain as Nigerians.

Catholic Church Clears Ngige Over Purported Attack On Priest

The Roman Catholic Church Tuesday gave the
All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship
candidate in Anambra State, Sen. Chris Ngige a
clean bill over allegations reported in the
social media that he attacked a Catholic priest
declaring the story to be fiction and the
handiwork of mischief makers.
In an interactive session with journalists at St.
Patrick Catholic Diocese premises in Awka, the
Chancellor,  Rev. Dr. Chudi Peter Akaenyi
affirmed that  neither the church nor  any
priest granted an interview or gave such story
to anyone and described the controversy as
politically  motivated to malign the Senator’s
image.
According to Rev, Akaenyi, ”On that fateful
day anybody knows that we had more than
1,000 people at the funeral ceremony for the
mother of Most  Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafora,
the Catholic Bishop of Awka nd many people
came. So we had a VIP space where we
entertained dignitaries. I was inside the VIP
and did not know what was happening at the
gate”
“Sen. Ngige also came with his people and the
Priest Rev. Fr. Evaristus Ezeokwonu was at the
gate receiving the guests and he told Ngige that
we cannot take all his people which he
accepted. Infact the priest gave Ngige more
number of people and he went into the VIP
before the incident happened”
“Stories came to us that Ngige security aides
attacked the priest and we drew the attention
of Ngige who came out to ask what happened.
Ngige asked for the policemen and we
discovered that the police men were not those
that came with Ngige.
‘’Later the three police men who actually
pushed the gate came to apologize to the priest
and they shook hands and we said ok. Nobody
slapped the priest what people are saying is
absolutely wrong and I can assure you that no
priest would have been attacked. No priest or
the church spoke to anybody.
“We know that during the political era people
would want to do one thing or the other in
order to achieve one or two aims. But we in
the church, we do not get involved in politics
we do not play politics. The allegation is
absolutely false”.
In his reaction to the allegation Ngige said “It
was politically motivated. I am a knight of St.
John of the Catholic Church and as a knight we
are soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ and we
are there to protect the church and the priest.
That is the more reason why I must protect
the priest as knight and the people who
represent Christ on earth are Rev. Fathers by
our Catholic doctrine.
‘’The Bishop is a Rev. Fr. before he became a
bishop and the same with the cardinal and
even the pope was once a Rev. Fr. and he
personify Christ on earth. The person who is
saying that I slapped a Rev. Father is
hallucinating. I can’t even conceive it. I come
from a very strong Catholic family and my
background is totally Catholic”
“I wouldn’t even do that on a clergy man of
Anglican communion or the Pentecostal church
or Methodist because the doctrines  are the
same.
‘’These are anointed people and that is why my
respect for them are undiluted at all. This
season is season of politics and the people in
APGA planted the story. They are clutching at
every straw that they can find as drowning
people. They are drowning, their ship is
sinking and so they have gone into
mudslinging. They are now throwing mud but
if it is a joke I think this is an expensive joke.
If it is mischief I think it is mischief carried
too far and they have crossed the red line and
I have a name to protect
“I have my integrity to protect and those who
know me well know that I am somebody who
cannot dream of a thing like that. So my legal
team is looking at this situation and
appropriate action will be taken in due cause”

CAUGHT IN THE ACT: DPO Having Amorous Affairs With A Lady In His Office (PICTURED)

Everyday is for the thief, but one day is for
the owner according to a popular saying. The
DPO (PICTURED BELOW) happens to be having
an intimate  affair with this lady. She took
pictures of them together in his office. And as
a professional police officer, he was
busy investigating the criminal offence the
bosoms was trying to commit.
But somehow the picture got to the wrong
hands and this is what we got, beware of what
you do in public.
Who said our police are not working?
LOL...See pics after the cut:

Ojukwu's Family Asks Bianca For Proof Of marriage

Some members of the Ojukwu family have
asked the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain,
Bianca Ojukwu, to show proof that she
was legally married to the late Ikemba of
Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu.
In a 19-paragraph statement of defence
filed by Ojukwu Transport Limited and
seven others before Justice Funmilayo
Atilade of the Lagos High Court, the
family equally demanded proof from
Bianca that her two sons, Afamefuna and
Nwachukwu are biological sons of
Odimegwu- Ojukwu.
The other defendants are Prof. Joseph
Ojukwu, Engr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna
Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu, Arc.
Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and
Mrs. Massey Udegbe (doing business
under Massey Udegbe & Company).
Bianca had in suit No: LD/1539/2012
filed on behalf of her two under-aged
children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu
(claimants), wants the court to declare
that her children are entitled to the
possession and occupation of the property
known as No. 29, Oyinkan Abayomi
Street, Ikoyi Lagos, until the
harmonisation of the management and
administration of the assets of the first
defendant (OTL).
At the resumed hearing of the suit
yesterday, counsel to Bianca and her
children, was not in court which
necessitated Justice Atilade to adjourn the
suit till December 10 for adoption of
written addresses on a Motion on Notice
seeking to restrain the defendants from
the property in dispute.
Bianca’s children had through their
lawyer; Chris Ezugwu, prayed the court to
declare as illegal the threat of forceful
ejection from 29, Oyinkan Abayomi
Street, by the defendants.
In addition, they urged the court to
declare that they are entitled to possess
the following property, namely: No 13,
Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as
No. 13 Ojora Road); No 32A, Commercial
Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No 30, Gerard Road,
Ikoyi, Lagos; No. 30, McPherson Avenue,
Ikoyi.
Bianca’s children said throughout the
period their father was struggling to
retrieve the properties from the
government, the second to the seventh
defendants “never played any role in the
struggle nor contributed financially or
otherwise to the realisation of the
struggle.”
Besides, the claimant is asking for an
order of court restraining the defendants,
their agents or privies from interfering
with the claimants’possesion and control
of the properties.
But, in their statement of defence, the 1st
to the 7th defendants through their
lawyer, George Uwechue, SAN, averred
that the subscribers of the memorandum
of association of Ojukwu Transport
Limited (1st defendant) at incorporation
in 1952 were L. P. Ojukwu and Betram
Chukwuemeka Obi, adding that the late
Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu and one
Prof. Joseph Ojukwu (2nd defendant) were
later appointed as directors in 1953.
They stated that late Chukwuemeka
Odimegwu- Ojukwu thereafter ceased to
be a director of the company prior to the
Nigerian civil war and was reappointed as
a director on December 16, 2005 while
the 3rd and 4th defendants were
appointed directors in 1954 and 2005
respectively.
They added that the claimants’ statement
of claim contained tissues of lies and
distorted facts alleging that Bianca who
instituted the suit, “being greedy felt that
she could hold unto the company’s
properties.”

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HIV-Positive Doctor Molests Patient In Benue

A medical personnel believed to be a doctor
reportedly Molested a female patient who was
on admission in a hospital where he practices.
According to report, the female patient was
brought to the clinic for emergency medical
attention and after been placed on drip,
recovered partially.
The medical personnel took advantage of the
fact that she was semi-conscious and
forcefully had sex with her.
The alleged Molester who is a medical
practitioner with Tersoo Clinic in Naka town,
Gwer West local government area of Benue
state has been arrested by the men of the
Benue State police command.
It was also gathered that the medical
personnel reportedly tested positive to HIV/
AIDs and was receiving Anti-Retroviral (ARV)
treatment at the General Hospital Naka,
before the incident.
The police public relations Officer in the state,
DSP Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident,
saying, “the medical personnel has been
arrested by our men in Naka and investigation
in the matter is on-going.”

WIZKID DID NOT PERFORM TO EMPTY SEATS, YANKEE ENTERTAINMENT THE ORGANIZERS OF WIZKID ABUJA INVASION CONFIRMS

It has been confirmed that wizkid didn't perform to empty seats in the previous abuja invasion.
The pictures Which showed empty chairs were actually taken before the show started..

Here are the real pics and what the show was like.

ASUU: Until Government Implements The 2012 MoU, We Will Not Call Off The Strike

Vice-chairman of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma, Dr Monday Igbafen has said
President Goodluck Jonathan was “the one on
strike.”
According to him, “President Jonathan is the
one on strike because he has refused to
implement agreements, so he should be
disregarded. He said he will soon call off the
strike; what has he done to warrant
suspension of the strike? Nothing concrete. I
don’t know where he is getting his
information from.
“You are not implementing anything, you are
not doing anything as President to end the
strike yet you said you want to suspend
strike. We are watching him. We have not
seen anything concrete to warrant the
suspension of the strike. If we have seen him
implementing the 2009 agreement or the
January 2012 MOU government entered with
the union on how to implement 2009
agreement then we will say he is correct.
“As it is now we have not seen anything. The
position of the union is still very clear to us
that the strike continues. We held our rally
today to sensitize our people that we are still
on strike and it was successful. So I don’t
understand what Jonathan is saying.
“Until government implements the 2012
MOU we will not call off the strike; that is
simple. This is the position of our members
in Edo and Delta and the position in all the
states. Even the vice-chancellors are saying
the N100 billion will not even be enough to
sustain the universities yet the Federal
Government is there playing games. Ministers
are buying bullet proof vehicles every day yet
they said no money to improve our
educational system, that is a shame and we
are really embarrassed with the President”.

HELLOOOO

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We can help to advertise your products and programmes.
                    Thanks.

In Pictures: Burna Boy Performs in his Underpants at Felabration 2013

Lolz.... what do you think?

Policeman Brutalises Daughter Over Witchcraft In Akwa Ibom

police sergeant from Ibiaku community,
Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa
Ibom State, Mr. Ita Ayamba, has allegedly
brutalised and abandoned his eight-year-old
daughter, Goodness Ayamba over her refusal
to confess to witchcraft.
Ita was said to have paraded the little girl
along the village streets Unclad, declaring that
Goodness was responsible for his
retrogression in the Police Force.
A source and relative of Ita, told our
correspondent in Eket on Saturday, on the
condition of anonymity,
that the police sergeant tortured his daughter
for several hours in an attempt to extract a
confession of being a witch from her.
He said, “When he discovered that Goodness
had passed out, Ita abandoned her, having hit
her chest with the butt of his AK 47 Rifle.
“None of us could go close to Ita to rescue
Goodness as he had threatened to shoot
anyone that dared.
“I don’t see how a child of that age could
become a clog in the wheel of her father’s
progress in the Police Force. We need to tell
each other the truth. Progress in one’s career
depends on the efforts one has made
academically.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that Ita had divorced
Goodness’ mother some years back. He was
said to have remarried almost immediately,
leaving three children including Goodness with
their grandmother.
A resident of the area, Okon Ekong, said that
on July 28, 2013 when the children were on
holiday, Ita had requested custody of them.
He was said to be at his new station in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, at the time.
Ita’s former wife, Mrs. Anietie Ayamba,
allegedly heeded his request and took the
children to him. Ekong said that the children’s
stepmother made life miserable for them.
He said, “It was during their stay in Port
Hracourt, that their stepmother took the
children to a Pentecostal church. Goodness
was accused of witchcraft at the church. Her
stepmother was told that Goodness was the
person responsible for their father’s non-
rising profile in the force.
“The father who was also in the church began
to beat and kick Goodness in a bid to extract a
confession about her witchcraft.”
When PUNCH Metro visited Immanuel
Hospital, Eket, Eket LGA, on Saturday, where
Goodness was taken to for medical attention,
it was gathered that she had been admitted at
the intensive care unit of the children’s ward.
Nurses at the hospital said Goodness’
condition was stable but that her bones and
chest cavity had been badly damaged.
A group of women lawyers under the aegis of
Federation of International Women Lawyers
have said that they would do everything within
their power to ensure that Ita was brought to
justice.
The state director of the organisation, Mrs.
Mary Udonsek, stated that the women would
not continue to sit back and allow men
maltreat their children on the guise of
labelling them witches.
Ita, said to be working at Trans Amadi Police
Station, Port Harcourt, Rivers State had
allegedly not been to Ibiaku, Mkpat Enin LGA
since the incident.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Etim Dickson, said the Rivers State Police
Command would be contacted about the
matter.
He said, “Messages have been sent across to
police area commands in Oron and Ikot
Ekpene so that Ita will not have any place to
hide once he is in the state.”

US Activist Jesse Jackson Urges ASUU To Have A Rethink And End Strike

Rev Jesse Jackson
United States Civil Rights Activist and
President of the Rainbow Push Coalition, Rev.
Jesse Jackson has urged the Academic Staff
Union of Universities, ASUU, to have a
rethink and end the strike.
Jackson made this call yesterday as he arrived
Abuja, to deliver a Keynote address at today’s
inauguration of former Federal Commissioner
of Information, Chief Edwin Clark
Foundation, which will take place at Ladi
Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel. Abuja.
Speaking with Journalists at the International
Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Jackson
who hailed chief Clark for coming up the
noble initiative of setting up a University of
Technology in his native home, Kiagbodo at
86, however hailed President Goodluck
Jonathan for creating such an enabling
environment for a dream of such to be
realised.
Jackson was received at the airport on behalf
of Chief Clark by Senator Bassey Henshaw,
former member, Federal House of
Representatives, Cairo Ojuogboh; Chief
Richard Lamai; member Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, National Executive Committee,
NEC, Mrs Ifeoma Agbomah.
At the Asokoro residence of Chief Clark to
receive Jackson were the Publisher of
Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; former Minister
of Police Affairs, General David Jemibewon;
Senator Chris Ukpabio; Ambassador,
Dr.Bolere Ketebu, among others.
President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to
serve as the Special Guest at today’s event,
the formal launch of N25 Billion NAND fund
raising dinner for the proposed Edwin Clark
University of Technology, ECUT, Delta State
and the Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Centre for
Youth Orientation and Development, Yenagoa,
Bayelsa state, just as former Head of State,
General Yakubu Gowon will chair the event.

[PHOTOS] Wizkid Performs For Nearly Empty Seats Last Night In Abuja

The quietly publicized, Wizkid Live Abuja
Invasion held Last Night.
Folks in attendance were stunned with the
number of people who showed up at the
concert with Wizkid the headliner with guest
appearances from label mates Skales, Niyola,
Shaydee.
Apparently, the show was meant to kick off at
5pm but was found empty as at 9:30pm and
these are few images someone in attendance
sent to us from the event centre

16-yr-old mother of 2 stabs husband to death

A 16-year-old mother of two, Ebere
Ogu, has allegedly stabbed his 35-year-old
husband, Patrick, to death in Akure, the
OndoState capital, during a fight, and has fled
with her children.
Detectives from the criminal Investigation
Division of the state Police Command are
presently looking for her.
Vanguard gathered that the crime was
committed last Thursday at their number 70
Ijapo extension residence in Akure at 5a.m.
Chinedu, a native of ImoState was a staff of
Owena River Basin Authority, Alagbaka in
Akure.
A co-tenant, who gave his name as Kelechi,
said: “Ebere and Patrick frequently engage in
fights but on Thursday, October 17, at 5a.m.,
the couple began to fight.
“Most times they engage in such fights, I go
there to settle it. But on this fateful morning,
when I got into their room I saw Ebere holding
a knife against her husband so I pleaded with
her to drop the knife and pleaded with Patrick
not to beat his wife.
“At the first attempt I succeeded in separating
them. So Ebere dropped the knife. But as soon
as Patrick saw that his wife had dropped the
knife, he seized the opportunity to pounce on
her and gave her another beating.
How he died
“I told Patrick to stop, but I noticed that when
he tried to move away he slumped and that
was when I screamed for help and called other
members of the house.
“When we entered the apartment we realised
that Patrick was already on the floor. So
people began to urge Ebere to lift her husband
up. She eventually did and we saw that the
father of two was already bleeding.
“We were all shocked and most of the people
took to their heels. Ebere escaped with her two
kids to an unknown destination.”
Police image-maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed
the ugly incident.
Ogodo said: “One Mr. Tuyi, who is the landlord
of the house the couple lived in, reported the
incident to the Police Station on Thursday 17,
at 6.45a.m.
Ogodo said that policemen are searching for
the suspected killer, while the corpse of the
deceased had been deposited at the Akure
State Specialist Hospital morgue for autopsy.

ASUU strike: UNIABUJA student attempts suicide, says it was a better option

The ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union
of Universities, ASUU took a different turn on
Saturday at the Dutse-Alhaji area of Abuja when
a female student of the University of Abuja
made to hang herself in protest of the nearly
four months old strike.
The female student identified as Jane Okoro
had already hanged herself, but fell off the
ceiling while struggling, apparently because the
rope she used was not strong enough.
Jane had sent her two younger brothers on an
errand, just a way of sending them out of the
house to be able to carry out the abominable
act, but one of the brothers returned after 15
minutes and saw her on the floor with a rope
tied round her neck while another rope
dangled from the ceiling fan. The 15 year old
boy raised the alarm, thinking that his sister
was dead, attracting neighbours and other
onlookers into their compound. However, it
was discovered by those who got there first,
that Jane was alive as it was only a suicide
attempt.
The boy, who was identified as Andrew had told
our correspondent that the sister was behaving
so strange throughout that morning. He said, ”
She was to go to the market with my mum, but
said she was not feeling too well. While we
were at home with her, she refused to talk. She
was always on her Blackberry. Shortly after
she had her bath, she sent us to First-Gate
(market), but I left some money I wanted to
use to buy my personal stuff at home, so upon
return, I saw her on the floor of our parlour. I
even thought she was dead, so I shouted.”
Meanwhile, the mother who
returned from the market
immediately after the news got to her had told
our correspondent in tears that, her daughter
must have attempted to commit suicide
because of the ongoing ASUU strike. She said, I
will ask her questions on why she wanted to do
this to us. She has been complaining to me
about this ASUU strike. She said, at her age,
she should have been done with school, and
begin to take care of the children and I. Her
father is late. I know that only this week, she
had complained to me up to 6 times on how
frustrating this strike has been. I know other
things may have contributed, but ASUU strike
may have contributed the most; but for
whatever reason, it was devilish for my
daughter to have attempted suicide.” She said.
Asked what she was going to do about the
situation, she said ” I will take her to my
Pastor this evening. She needs prayers. We
need somebody to talk to her. God will do the
miracle for me. I didn’t do anything to
anybody. I must not suffer for nothing. She is
already in her third year in school. What
would I have done if this had happened?”
Attempt to speak with Jane failed as she could
not respond to questions from our
correspondent. The only statement she
muttered was ” It was a better option”.
The mother had later asked our correspondent
to leave her to rest. She said ” she will talk to
you after we see our Pastor. She will give the
testimony herself.”
However, a female friend of Jane who had
pleaded not to be mentioned showed our
correspondent her recent conversation with
Jane on her Blackberry. She said ” my last chat
with her was on this very ASUU strike. See
what she posted, ” I tire for these ASUU
peopleoooo” She showed our correspondent
the chat.

Obafemi Martins And Girlfriend Welcome Son

Nigeria's international Obafemi Martins has
welcomed his third child from his third baby
mama. Abigail Barwuah, the older sister of
Italian footballer Mario Balotelli gave birth to
a baby boy on Wednesday October 16th in
Italy.
25 year old Abigail, who has been dating
Obafemi since 2012, lost the first pregnancy
we all reported last year. She was about four
months pregnant when she was in Nigeria with
Obafemi in December 2012 but lost the baby
and got pregnant again almost immediately.
The never-before-married Obafemi has a
daughter with an African chick he dated in Italy
many years ago, he also has a 3 and a half year
old son with a white chick he dated while
playing in the UK and now a son with Abigail.
Father of all nations. Hehe. Congrats to Abigail
and Obafemi!

I Was Paid $2500 USD for Killing 2Pac- Dexter Isaac

An inmate who is currently serving a life
prison sentence plus 30 years for murder and
robbery, named Dexter Isaac has claimed
responsibility for shooting Tupac Shakur in
Manhattan’s Quad Studios in November 1994,
setting off a chain reaction of violent
reprisals that resulted in the eventual murder
of both Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.,
who was originally blamed for the assault. in
his statement he said he was paid $2,500 for
the shooting by James “Jimmy Henchman”
Rosemond, a music industry figure who is
now the CEO of Czar Entertainment and the
manager of the Game.
In the statement, Isaac apologized to Tupac
and Biggie’s families and said that he kept
quiet until now because the statute of
limitations for an assault charge has expired
and he cannot be charged for the attack.
Isaac also expressed regret for getting
involved with Rosemond, whom he refers to
as a “sucker.” Rosemond is currently a
fugitive wanted by the DEA and federal
marshals for his involvement with a cocaine
trafficking operation.

Music: Victoria Kimani – Hate On Me ft. Pryse

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My hubby loves to see me in mini – Chioma Toplis

Despite being the busiest actress in
Nollywood,plus-sized actress, Chioma Toplis
has continued to be an item in the industry.
Since 2004 when she had her break in
Nollywood, the busty role interpreter is not
resting on her oars. Based in the United
Kingdom, the fair- complexion actress who
combines acting with her business of selling
and buying has featured in many flicks such as
Iraq and Iran, Zara, Sincerity, Deadly Friend,
Proof of Life, Mad Ghost, among many others.
Married to a Briton, the controversial sexy
actress in this interview, addresses some of
the issues bothering on career, controversies,
marital life and dress sense.

What has been happening to you recently?

I am fine. I have not been regular in Nigeria
this year. I had been on holiday with my
children abroad. I need to put certain things in
place before returning to the country.

When was the last time you visited Nigeria ?

I left the country in November last year. I am
not a noise maker. Nobody hears about me
whenever I’m around. I’m not really a party
goer. I am always on my own doing my thing.
In fact, I’m more involved in my business than
going on movie sets. It’s only when I am free
that I consider hitting teh set.

Have you been shooting movies in the UK ?

No, I don’t go for auditions in the UK. While
in the UK, I get more involved in my boutique
business. I don’t have a shop but I run my
business from my house.

With your business, do you still find time to
pursue your acting career?

Of course, I still go on location. You know, in
Nollywood, you work with producers that are
your people. I don’t go about canvassing for
jobs. If you need me, you know how to reach
me. I’d go for jobs that I’m invited to be part
of the cast. It’s not every movie that I would
want to feature in. No, Iam selective.

Is it deliberate or that your business does not
give you the chance to focus on acting?

It is partly because of my business and my
family. I really want to be focused but at the
same time, I have to engage myself in other
things that would food on my table. Scripts
don’t come my way most often. But I have to
do other things that are profitable to me.
Sometimes, I might be busy with my business
when script will suddenly come my way and I
might not be chanced to grab it at that
moment.

You run a boutique in Lekki. Do you supply
Nollywood with costume or props?

I don’t, but I have been providing my own
costuming ever since I joined Nollywood. It is
only when I’m required to wear traditional
outfit that they producers provide costumes
for me.   In spite of this, I don’t costume
other stars. My boutique is located  in Lekki,
and I sell wholesale. That’s why I don’t have
too many people as customers even in
Nollywood.

What role did you play in your  last movie?

I have forgotten the title of the movie. But I
can remember I played the role of Mariam,
Apollo’s friend in that movie .   When it was
released, people were calling to commend my
acting prowess. I don’t like feauring in movies
regularly. I believe in doing one quality job at
a time. And each time, I star in a movie,
people always recommend the work. I’m
looking forward to starring in a blockbluster
movie. To some people,  I am an arrogant
person. But the truth is that I am not
arrogant. I still want to maintain my dignity.

What is your take on the state of the Actors
Guild of Nigeria ?

I am a member of the guild. But I’m not
interested  in the politics of the guild because
I know that what is happening therein is not
peculiar to the guild alone. It happens in many
other organisations. But I will be happy if
there is peace in the industry. I am
particularly happy that for the first time a
woman is the piloting the affairs of the guild.
Perhaps, it means that one day, our leaders
will give a woman the opportunity to rule this
country. I don’t have anything against anybody
as a member of the guild.

As an actress, what role can you not play in
movies?

I don’t think there is any role I cannot play in
movies. However, due to our culture, I cannot
play certain roles. If I’m overseas, I can play
any role. They have a way of packaging their
movies even when you think there is lots of
nudity. They do it in a way that you are not
going to go nude. If I find myself in
Hollywood, I will interprete whatever role I’m
given to play. When people kiss in Hollywood,
it looks real. But in actuality, nothing serious
happened. In Nollywood and given the kind of
culture we have here, it’s a big issue.  You will
be castigated and your family will disown you.

How do you combine your business with your
acting career?

That’s why I don’t have time on my won. It is
also why you don’t always see me out there. I
am not a noise maker. When people see me
they feel I’m just here for the fun of it.I do
other things here. I’m into interior decoration.
I have not done a national or international
job  before now, but I have been doing a lot of
personal jobs. I have friends who invite me to
do one or two things for them.

What is your relationship with some of your
colleagues in the industry, particularly Oge
Okoye ?

I don’t want to talk about that now. When I
first came into the industry, I took everybody
that came close to me as friends but with the
passage of time, I realised that not everybody
that laugh with you are your friends. As a
result, I started choosing my friends and not
them choosing me. I chose the ones I feel I
can call my friends.

Could you share some of the ugly experiences
that made you to take such a drastic decision?

I’m not going to recount any story now. But it
is not about one person. It has to do with
people  I called my friends and who were
around me then. My mind is an open book to
everybody. But I have learnt my lesson from
whatever happened between me and the
people I called my friends. I have also forgiven
everybody who has wronged me in one way or
the other. I have moved on with my life.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience I  must tell
you. It has to do with back-biting, jealousy,
and stabbing one in the back. I experienced a
lot of things. But unfortunately, these people
who were criticising me were not my equal. I
am down-to-earth and may be, I appeared to
be older than them because I know when they
were born. You just put yourself in and flow.
At the same time, I can do anything I want to
do and be what I want to be without them.
None of them introduced me to anybody in the
industry. Everything I have done in the
industry today, I have done for myself.

Did their action somehow affected your
marital life?

No way
There was a rumour that your marital life was
affected negatively
My husband doesn’t have that kind of time.
Anybody that is bringing my family into any
controversy is just wasting his or her time. I
am just an easy going person and it has
nothing to do with my marriage.
You are saying your marriage was never
threatened?
It can never be.

Why do you dress the way you dress?

I wear what I feel comfortable in. In fact, I
dress according to the occasion. Presently, I
have cut down on the kind of clothes I wear
because of the fact that one is no longer a
child. I have decided to reduce it a bit
especially when I am in Nigeria. It is not that I
flaunt my cleavages a lot but it depends
mostly on the kind of clothes I’m putting on
at that moment.
I have reduced the way I wear mini-skirt. I just
want to be wearing clothes that suits my age. I
am going to be 40 sometime this year. Not that
you won’t see me in other wears like when I
am going clubbing but I have really cut down
on those wears. To my husband, it is not a big
deal. He even loves to see me in mini.
For sometimes, I have not made my coloured
hair. Anybody that wants to talk about my
dress sense, the person should go ahead and
do so. Some people misunderstood me, they
judge the book by its cover. Some people may
conclude she’s irresponsible. If I am
irresponsible, I won’t be in marriage of 18
years now. I wouldn’t have brought up my son
who is going to be 19 years soon.
I am so proud to say I have three children
whom I brought up single handedly . Over the
years, my husband  doesn’t live with us. He is
always working outside the country. Now, he
doesn’t live with us. He used to live in Dubai
but now, he resides in Kuwait . When people
sit back and gossip someone, they should
remember that I have three grown up children
I brought up from the scratch. If people want
to judge me by how I dress or any other thing,
that’s their business.

What attracted you to your husband?

I met him here in Nigeria . One of my friends
who is married to a Norwegian man invited me
to a sent forth party. He was also at the event.
I was sitting at a corner  when he sighted me
and immediately sent somebody to come and
ask me what I wanted to drink. I told him I
wanted to take a bottle of coke. I don’t take
alcohol. Later, I thanked him and he gave me
his complimentary card and that was it. He
told me he got attracted to me because of my
set of teeth. One thing led to another before
we knew what was happening, we got married
and later moved to the UK. He is an enigneer.

How do you cope without your husband most
of the time?

In the first 10 years of our marriage, we used
to live together and we were moving with him.
But when our  children got permanent school
in the UK, I didn’t want to be moving them
anymore.

How do you cope with your male admirers?

If I am beautiful why won’t men come after
me? Even ugly ones, men still chase them.
When they come to me, I usually tell them
that I am married and nothing more. Naturally,
I know that most Nigerian men don’t like to
have anything to do with married women.

Petr Cech backs ref on Hazard’s controversial goal

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech
claims referee Anthony Taylor was right not to
rule out Eden Hazard’s controversial equaliser
in the London club’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City.
With the hosts trailing 1-0 in Saturday’s
Premier League game at Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o stole possession
from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall as he
bounced the ball, enabling Hazard to score.
The laws of the game state that a goalkeeper is
deemed to be in control of the ball when he
bounces it, meaning that the goal should not
have stood.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay expressed his
disappointment with the decision after the
game, accusing Taylor of a “horrendous error”,
but Cech felt it was not a clear-cut situation.
“It’s always a difficult question, when you lose
control or don’t lose control,” said Cech, who
made his 300th league appearance in the
game.
“What I know is that if you throw the ball to
kick it out, nobody can touch you because it
counts as one motion.
“In terms of bouncing, it’s not one motion, so
it’s totally up to the referee to decide whether
the goalkeeper had control of the ball or not.
“The referee had the perfect view of it, he was
very close and he decided to give it.
“In this case you have to go with the referee.
It’s an unusual situation, but as long as the
referee is happy with it, the goal is in.”

Jonathan’s motorcade rescues accident victims.

The advance team of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s entourage, returning from
Ado-Ekiti on Sunday rendered emergency
rescue services to accident victims on the
Lokoja-Abuja highway.
The accident which occurred at Okpu village,
few kilometres after Lokoja, involved two cars,
carrying 11 people.
A Nissan Almera car with registration number
AH 47 KAA going to Lokoja and a Honda
Accord car (Baby Boy) with registration
number BG945BWR en-route Abuja, were
involved in the accident.
The two vehicles had a head-on collision with
serious impact, causing varying degrees of
injury to the occupants of the vehicles.
The accident occurred few minutes before the
presidential motorcade came to the scene.
The security team in the convoy swung into
action by rescuing trapped victims in the two
cars.
The front door of the passenger seat of the
Nissan car was axed before a middle aged
woman, who was trapped inside, could be
rescued.
The medical team, led by Dr Aliyu Usman of
the State House Clinic, rendered emergency
medical treatment to the victims, aided by two
nurses.
A team of Federal Road Safety Commission
(FRSC), led by one Mohammed Haruna, came
to the scene of the accident about 30 minutes
into the rescue operation.
The victims were taken to the Federal Medical
Centre, Lokoja in an FRSC rescue van for
further medical attention.
An eye witness, Aliyu Sadiq, said that the
accident was caused by over-speeding,
dangerous driving and the poor state of the
road.
Sadiq appealed to the Federal Government to
expedite action on completing the dualisation
of the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
The eye witness, who is a commercial bus
driver, said he plied the road on daily basis,
adding that “there is a hardly a day that an
accident is not recorded on the road.” (NAN)

Tragic: See Photos From Beautiful Wedding Minutes Before Groom Was Killed In Front Of His New Wife

A new bride was forced to watch her new
husband being shot dead by masked
gunmen at their Jamaican wedding
reception.
Jacqueline Cousins, 49, married Dameion
Cousins, 31, in an idyllic ceremony in the
Caribbean.
But hours later an armed gang burst into the
reception claiming the groom owed them
$10,000 Jamaican dollars – just $100 (USD).
They held the bride at gunpoint while Mr
Cousins was shot in the head outside in the
driveway.
Mrs Cousins, a family support worker, from
Hornsey, North London, said she has no idea
why the gang targeted her husband.
She said: “I started screaming and screaming
and I could not believe what I was seeing. I
lay down next to him and I put my head on
his chest. I realised he was dead.
We were just two people who really loved
each other and had taken that move to be
together and just a few hours later this is
what I was dealing with.”
The mother-of-seven first met Mr Cousins – a
songwriter and performer – when she visited
her parent’s home in Jamaica 11 years ago.
The couple did not begin dating until seven
years later when her previous marriage fell
apart.
After a long-distance romance Mr Cousins
proposed on New Year’s Day in 2012 and the
pair married in an intimate ceremony at his
home in Hart Hill, Jamaica, in July this year.
“It was absolutely beautiful,” said Mrs
Cousins. “There was a red carpet, and just 17
people there including us, with twinkling fairy
lights.
“I had picked flowers from my mother’s
garden and Dameion had made beautiful
pathway with them. I had never seen him so
happy.”
The reception was also held at the property
and Mr Cousins briefly left towards the end
of the evening to drop his two daughters
back to their mother’s house.
The new wife and her mother-in-law Dorothy,
80, were chatting in an upstairs bedroom
when two thugs burst in and demanded to
know “where is the Rasta?”
They claimed he owed them cash and one of
the intruders went in search of valuables. But
at that moment Mr Cousins pulled into the
drive and the women heard a number of
gunshots before the gunmen scarpered.
Distraught Mrs Cousins discovered her new
husband had been shot in the head and neck.
Recalling the attack, she said: “I was so
frightened I could barely lift my head to look
at them .
I told them that he was not there, that they
could take what they wanted, but it all
happened to quickly.”
Police arrested two men following the brutal
attack, but released them without charge and
no one has ever been caught or prosecuted.
The newlyweds planned to return to London
so Mrs Cousins could continue work and her
new husband could get a job.
Mrs Cousins, who returned to London in
August, said: “I just want answers. The two
men who killed my husband are still out
there.
Everybody loved Dameion. He got on with
everyone. I think it was simply jealousy that
he might have left the country and had a life
with me.”

Emenike: Can he fill Yekini’s boots?

Man of the moment, Emmanuel Emenike, is
being touted as a replacement for late
Nigerian legend, Rashidi Yekini. Can the
Fenerbahce striker rise to the occasion? ’TANA
AIYEJINA reports
Nigeria still yearns for a proven goal scorer
even after the exit of late Rashidi Yekini from
international football 15 years ago.
Nicknamed Yeking or Goals Father due to his
knack for goals, the giant striker, who died
last year, sparked fear into opposing defences
whenever he was on duty for both club and
country.
In a career that spanned 14 years, Yekini
scored 37 goals in 58 matches to remain as
Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer.
Aside holding the above stated record, most
of Yekini’s goals were very significant to the
success of the national team. When hope was
lost, you could count on the gangling player
to carve out a goal from nothing.
Not one for showmanship, the former Abiola
Babes striker could score from anywhere on
the pitch. He packed ferocious shots in his
boots and was very deadly aerially, using his
huge frame and towering height as an
advantage against defenders.
He was also very strong, thus difficult to
knock off the ball and a master in the art of
converting penalty kicks.
It was always going to be a difficult task
finding a replacement for the man, who
scored 90 goals in 108 games for Portuguese
side Vitoria Setubal.
But no one probably knew it would last a
decade and half with no replacement in sight
since Yekini retired from international
football after a cameo appearance at the
1998 World Cup in France.
Many close watchers say Fenerbahce striker
Emmanuel Emenike may just be the player to
fill Yekini’s extra large boots.
Just like Yekini—when the Eagles won the
1994 Africa Cup of Nations— Emenike was top
scorer at the 2013 AFCON with four goals as
Nigeria cruised to a third title.
And the powerful striker has ensured once
again that the Eagles have a foot in Brazil
after his two goals in Addis Ababa earned the
African champions a hard-fought 2-1 win over
Ethiopia in their first leg final African
qualifiers for the World Cup.
The ex-Spartak Moscow forward made his
Nigeria debut in 2011 and has gone on to
score 10 goals in 18 matches for Nigeria: an
average of 0.556 goals per game, the fourth
highest in the history of the Eagles. It is
definitely not a far cry from Yekini’s 37 goals
in 58 games: 0.64 goals per game.
His goals ratio could have been more but for
an injury he sustained in the semi-finals of
the 2013 AFCON, which sidelined him for
months for both club and country duties.
He only returned for the Eagles final group
qualifier against Malawi in Calabar and he
announced his comeback with a goal in the
2-0 win.
Against Ethiopia, the Eagles, playing at an
altitude of 2, 400m on the bumpy Addis
Ababa stadium on October 13, fell behind to
the Walya Antelopes early in the second half.
Again, it was Emenike who rose to the
occasion with a stunning equaliser. On the
stroke of full time, he was brought down
inside the box after a dazzling run and the
confident player got up, dusted himself and
slotted home the resultant penalty kick, thus
saving Nigerians the agony of permutations
before the return leg in Calabar next month.
Emenike admits that it won’t be an easy task
erasing Yekini’s amazing record but he hopes
to even make a bigger impression with time.
The 26-year-old said, “Yekini’s shoes are still
too big for me to wear, I am only doing what
I know best for my fatherland and I have not
done anything yet.
“I still have a lot to do to get to the height
reached by such a legend. The fans have to
wait before I can accept that tag but for now,
I’m thinking about making the name Emenike
bigger than the late Yekini.”
Former Eagles striker, Victor Agali, also once
touted as a replacement for Yekini, says
Emenike can fill the boots of the legendary
striker if there is unity in the national team.
Agali scored five goals in 12 outings for the
national team.
“It will be easy for him (Emenike) to erase
Yekini’s record only if the team play for him.
If he keeps getting all the reviews in the
media, some players may become jealous.
“He is very strong, quick and shoots very well,
so he is good. But don’t forget this is the
Super Eagles. If he gets injured and the
officials neglect him, it may also affect him.
So, he needs both the officials and players
even the fans to achieve his dream,” the
former Schalke 04 forward said.
But sports broadcaster, Bimbo Adeola, says
comparing Emenike with Yekini would put
more pressure on the player’s young
shoulders.
He said, “It’s too early to put the young man
under pressure; though he’s doing very well
and we have been relying on him for goals.
“When Martins emerged, he was compared to
Yekini. It happened to other players and it got
into their heads and they lost it.
“Again, we shouldn’t forget that he has not
been up to scratch for his club recently. I
think the less pressure we put on him, the
better for him. He just needs to play his
football normally.”
A lot of strikers have emerged after Yekini’s
retirement but they all struggled to match the
astonishing credentials of the 1993 African
Footballer of The Year.
First on the cards was Daniel Amokachi,
Yekini’s strike partner. The present Eagles
assistant coach, though had a fine time in
Europe playing for Club Brugge, Everton and
Besiktas but injury forced him into early
etirement at the age of 27 years, after only 13
goals in 44 appearances for Nigeria.
Next was Julius Aghahowa, who notched 14
goals between 2000 and 2007. The former
Bendel Insurance striker showed a lot of
initial promise after he caught the eye at the
1999 U-20 World Cup on home soil.
A very tricky player, he was seen as the final
solution to the Eagles striking problems after
Yekini’s departure. And he didn’t disappoint,
he was Nigeria’s top scorer at the 2002 Africa
Cup of Nations and scored the Eagles only
goal at the 2002 World Cup.
Everything seemed right for the then Shakhtar
Donetsk man until he made a move to England
to join Wigan Athletic in 2007.
In a year and half at the English Premier
League side, Aghahowa, who scored 32 goals
in 89 games for Shakhtar, failed to find the
back of the net. The poor outing restricted his
chances in the Eagles and he bowed out after
just 32 matches for Nigeria.
Though not the fans favourite, Yakubu
Aiyegbeni showed traces of Yekini in his game.
Strong, business-like and good at taking
penalty kicks, he accounted for 21 goals in 57
games between 2000 and 2010 to emerge as
the country’s third all-time top scorer.
Yak was top scorer in the Nigerian league with
Julius Berger before a move to Israeli side
Maccabi Haifa as a 16-year-old.
He was outstanding when he moved to
England but even though he scored 104 goals
in English football between 2003 and 2012,
the 30-year-old’s international career was all
but over after missing a begging chance in
front of an empty goal from three metres
against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.
Obafemi Martins also showed a lot of promise
after breaking into Inter Milan’s senior team
as an 18-year-old, thus earning a call-up to
the Eagles in 2004. He has 18 goals to his
credit for Nigeria and has earned a reputaion
as a journeyman after plying his trade across
top European leagues.
Now at MLS side Seattle Sounders, Oba Goal
seemingly didn’t impress Stephen Keshi, who
offered him a return to international football
in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya
earlier in the year. The coach hasn’t called
him up ever since.
Villarreal striker Ike Uche also gave fans
something to cheer with his goal scoring
abilities. Capped in 2007 by Nigeria, Uche has
an impressive scoring chart for the Eagles: 18
goals in 44 games. But he hasn’t had a chance
to add to that tally after a below average
performance at the 2013 AFCON meant he
was left out of the squad by officials.
Worthy of note is the performance of former
Eagles captain Austin Okocha. Though a
midfielder, the former Bolton Wanderers man
also tried to help out in attack and ended up
with 14 goals for the Eagles.
Former Enyimba coach, Godfrey Esu, believes
Yekini’s record still exists because Nigerian
players don’t go the extra mile to improve on
their talents.
Esu said, “It’s just that our professionals don’t
want to invest in themselves. Sometimes talent
and luck comes in but if you want to be the
best, you must have a personal coach,
someone with experience in psychology, who
will help you analyse your games.
“If our players start scoring, they forget about
developing themselves. All the best players in
the world have their personal staff, for
optimum productivity.”
The highly experienced coach is optimistic
that Emenike will eventually break the jinx.
“Emenike is still very young; I see him as
someone ready to learn. He is also humble. If
he keeps working the way he is now, he will
get there in time but he has to work harder.
He must hire the services of a personal coach
to improve his game.”
At just 5 feet 11 1⁄2 inches, Emenike is
nowhere near the towering 6 feet 3 inches
Yekini in height but no one can doubt his
ability to rise up to the occasion, when called
upon.

Policeman shoots colleague dead in Jos

A mobile policeman attached to the Special
Task Force in Jos shot and killed his colleague
on Saturday. Two other people were also said
to have been injured in the shooting, which
occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Jol,
Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau
State.
The injured people, who had not been
identified as at the time of this report, were
said to be on danger list at Vom Christian
Hospital, near Jos.
The Executive Director of Stefanos
Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, told our
correspondent that they had yet to
understand the motive of the shooting.
Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris
Olakpe, told our correspondent that
investigations were on to ascertain the cause
of the incident.
He said, “I am right now addressing the men
to calm them down so that the incident will
not dampen their spirit. We will not like
anything that will affect their morale,
especially at this time we are preparing for a
crucial task of the local government elections
in the state. The incident is highly regrettable
and we want to ensure that it does not
happen again.”

ASUUstrike Update: ASUUrejects N600billion offer fromFG

According to THE NATION, the Academic Staff
Union of Universities, ASUU has rejected FG’s
latest offer tabled before them in order to
make them end their 4-month-old strike.
SAHARA REPORTERS had yesterday cited an
internal memo by the VC of Federal
University, Otuoke, Prof. Bolaji Aluko saying
FG had pledged to spend N200 billion on the
universities in the 2014 budget and the same
amount annually for the next three to four
years, in addition to the N100 billion already
made available this year.
The government had also, according to the
memo increased to N40 billion, as a first
installment, funds for the payment of earned
allowances to the striking lecturers – an
improvement from the N30 billion previously
released. Universities will be given autonomy
on spending funds to develop their facilities,
the memo added. ASUU was also mandated to
submit a blueprint for revitalising the
universities to the Vice President.
All this, the memo said, was the result of the
meetings held with the Vice President
Mohammed Sambo and others on Sept. 19
and Oct 11.
But the varsity teachers remained
unimpressed and adamant, and last night said
the old strike would go on, despite the
government’s shifting of its position.
ASUU’s National Treasurer Dr. Ademola
Aremu, speaking with THE NATION said the
offer failed to meet the teachers’ expectations
and falls short of the agreement signed with
ASUU by the government.
“Even if the Federal Government made that
promise, it would be a unilateral repudiation
of the 2009 agreement. By now, the
government should have injected N500
billion. That amounts to N100 billion in 2012
and N400 billion in the current year.” He
said.
“As a matter of fact, any new commitment
from the Federal Government is belated.
Implementation of the agreement ought to
have started before this year. I don’t think
there is any way we can trust this
government, going by its past behaviour on
this issue.
“The mandate from our principal as at the last
time we met was that we won’t end the strike
until the agreement is fully implemented.
“We do not need promises again. What we
need now is actual implementation. What if
they do not release the funds again after
making the promise?
“It was this same Mr President that mid-wifed
the agreement in 2009 when he was the Vice
President. The MoU was in his custody. He
studied the agreement well before asking then
President Umaru Yar’Adua to sign it. We can’t
trust this government.”

ASUU Strike: MAN Urges FG To Find A Lasting Solution

President of the Muslim Association of
Nigeria, (MAN), Alhaji Sulayman Yusuf, has
called on the Federal Government to bring a
lasting solution to the protracted strike
embarked upon by the Academic Staff union
of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigeria
Medical Association (NMA).
He also charged the striking Unions to come
to terms with the government so as to restore
credibility to the country educational system
and ensure safety of lives.
“MAN is not happy with these strikes. Our
schools and hospitals are paralyzed; what
kind of graduates do we intend to produce if
our ivory towers remain locked? What
message are we passing on to the
international community? Nigerians will be
sidelined for international job because our
graduates would be considered half-baked.
People are dying because doctors are not on
ground to attend to them. We need to show
love and mutual understanding to one
another. The parties involved should provide
long term solutions to these crises as soon as
possible.”
Yusuf also called on the Boko Haram sect to
sheath their swords and imbibe the good
culture which Islam is noted for.
He said: “We request that Boko Haram reach
a ceasefire agreement with Federal
government. If we show love to one another,
it would help check insecurity in the country.

ASUU STRIKE: Police Disrupt Planned Protest

No fewer than 200 policemen stormed the
campus of the Ebonyi State University
(EBSU) yesterday to prevent members of
the Academic Staff Union of Universities,
ASUU, from staging a peaceful protest
against the Federal government over its
inability to address the ongoing strike by
the union.
Apart from the policemen, some officials of
other security agencies including the
Department of State Services, DSS, were also
deployed at strategic corners in the
institution to stop the protest.
The EBSU chapter of ASUU had planned a
peaceful protest on the streets of Abakaliki,
the state capital, but they were prevented
them from by policemen who were armed
with AK 47 rifles, canisters of tear gas among
others, who shut the gate leading to the
College of Agricultural Science, CAS, Campus
of the university, thereby preventing
members of the Union from matching
through the streets of Abakaliki and denying
other members of the public and students
who had other reasons for coming to the
school entrance into the campus.
The policemen did a stop-and-search at the
gate of the campus and retrieved all the
materials and flyers for the protest from both
the academic and non-academics staff .
The policemen who claimed to be acting on
directives from Commissioner of Police,
Maigari Dikko, were also drafted to the other
three campuses of the institution: the
permanent site campus at Ezzamgbo and
those at Ishieke and Presco. They claimed to
have stopped the procession from going out
of the campus to prevent hoodlums from
hijacking the protest.
Addressing the union members, the Divisional
Police Officer in-charge of Ekumenyi Police
Station, W.A Mustapha, as ASP, said, “I was
directed by the police commissioner to come
here and ensure that you restrict your rally
within the school premises. There are other
citizens of this country going about their
normal businesses and we won’t want a
situation where their movement will be
restricted.”
This however did not stop the protest as the
EBSU-ASUU members staged the protest
within the campus, singing solidarity songs
and carrying placards with the inscriptions:
“FG: Save University Education”, “FG: Do not
kill University education”, “FG: Agreement is
Agreement”, “Poor University education
makes every sector fake”, “Nigeria: “Fight
poor education”, “FG-ASUU Agreement! FG
has reneged, Say no to Beggarcracy,”among
others.

Suspected Cultists Murder LASPOTECH Student

A final year student of Lagos State Polytechnic,
Ibrahim Oluwaseun, 26, has been killed by
suspected cult members at his parents’ home
in
Somolu area of Lagos. The deceased, a student
of Business Administration, was said to have
been preparing to defend his final year project
this
week when he was killed on Friday night.
Our correspondent also gathered that the
deceased was sitting with his mother outside
their home on New Balogun street, when he
was shot
around 9pm.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said
the gunmen were about seven.
He said, “They were seven in number; they
came to the area fully armed. All those guys
were strangers to us but have been coming to
the area
for some time now. Nobody knew exactly what
they were up to.
“That night, they confronted the boys in the
area with guns and immediately people saw
them, they ran for their lives.
“They shot at Oluwaseun who was with his
mum outside their house. It wasn’t as if
Oluwaseun was involved in any fight. He fell
into the gutter
immediately he was shot, just as everybody
tried running for cover.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that in the ensuing
confusion, neither of Oluwaseun’s neighbours
nor relatives, witnessed his fall into the gutter.
It wasn’t
until after the confusion had subsided that
residents allegedly observed that Oluwaseun
was nowhere to be found.
Another source told PUNCH Metro that the
Divisional Police Officer, Somolu Station,
responding to a distress call on the shooting,
drafted some
patrol teams to the area.
He said, “Two patrol vehicles were sent to the
area but even while the police patrolled the
streets, no one noticed that Oluwaseun was in
the
gutter. Perhaps he might have survived the
shooting if he had been discovered on time.”