A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Hi, The Guitar maestro, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, in one of his evergreen oldies sang about covetousness and why an individual must not take over a friend's spouse, describing it as a shameful act, which tarnishes one's reputation. This same act has been described as worse than stealing even by public perception. Perhaps it is because a lot of things have been attributed to friendship. Good friends are God sent. Some friends are dearer than blood relatives. Friendship is based on trust and must be nurtured and protected if it is to achieve the purpose for which it was developed. That many people have benefited immensely from good friendships is not in question. But in the same way, many others have only stories of woe, betrayal and damnation to tell of their friends. Perhaps, it is the fact that we get to choose our friends that makes it more painful to bear when we are betrayed by them. The irony is that no one can identify a bad friend until an evil or harm has been perpetuated by them, by which time, it may be too late.
A friend who intends to steal your wife or husband from you is not likely to give you notice or room for suspicion. In fact, he might even be your closest ally. The term, chop and clean mouth, does not apply in this situation, this is operation total take over. Despite God's commandment and societal condemnation, the practice just seem to be etching itself into our psyche. Stories of married women walking away from one friend's arms into another without as much as batting an eyelid, and men who without stopping to empathize with their fellow men, take over their women. In their foolery, they take solace in the famous story of king David and his epic love affair with Bathsheba, wife of soldier, Uriah. They forget that this was an affair that led to the death of the husband and the child produced from the adulterous relationship.
A couple of months ago, I'd accompanied a friend to visit her elderly uncle. It was no ordinary visit but a small family meeting to counsel their young cousin whose wife had just deserted him and their children for another man. Incidentally too, the new man in her life was a close friend of the family. I had tagged along for the gist but what I eventually got was a double barrel. During the discussion her elderly uncle who had also been a victim of such a betrayal added his own story to the package. I was the happier for it, though left wondering how some people could throw decorum, decency and fear of God out of the window for a few moments of desire.
In this edition and the next, I will share with you the experiences of these two gentlemen. If you have a similar experience you know about, kindly write in and share it with us. Or simply share your views on this issue with us via the contacts on this page. Do have a wonderful weekend!!
Pa Shina, (82), retired Civil Servant who lost his first wife to someone he claimed was a "good friend" way back in the 1970s.
I met my wife in England. It was at a party being hosted by a Nigerian friend. I loved her because she was friendly and a little carefree. She had lots of friends too and a bit of money to spend, as she had a good job. She was not going to school like most people were, though she told me that she was saving up to do so. Soon, we got married after a brief courtship and things were very good between us.
I was still studying for my Diploma when we had our first child. We had planned that when I graduated, she too will go and study something before we returned to Nigeria. In those days, our girls usually studied Nursing, Dressmaking or Catering. After the birth of our second child and I had finished my education, she refused to go to school. Soon, the third child came and then there was no way she could anymore.
I never suspected that she was a wayward woman until the final act. The only thing she ever engaged in apart from partying was bleaching. But this was the vogue among many of our girls in those days and didn't really mean anything to me. In 1967, her mother died in Lagos Nigeria, and she had to come for the final burial rites. Since we are Muslims, the corpse had been buried the following day. The final burial was to coincide with the first year memorial anniversary and my wife was expected to be in attendance.
We made plans and saved money towards her coming home. We had planned that she would take one of the children with her, but eventually the idea was shelved because of her fears about witchcraft and some unidentified enemies. The cost was also part of our considerations. As the day drew near, one of my close friends too informed me that he was travelling to Nigeria to attend to some family problems. I intimated him about my wife's journey though they were all aware that she'd lost her mother. We then decided that they should travel together so that my friend could help me take care of my wife. She had persuaded me to allow her travel by sea to save cost. Her argument was that she could use the money to purchase more gifts for the people at home and also enough to spend on the party.
On the day of their departure, I, in the company of the children escorted my wife and my friend off to the port at Liverpool. That was the last time I saw my wife. We met three years later when I came to verify the truth of the matter with my own eyes.
I received a letter from my wife when she arrived Nigeria and another one a few months after the party. She even sent photographs taken at the party with my friend whom she'd informed me took very good care of her while on the ship and had even stayed in touch with her in Lagos. He had represented me so well at the ceremony, she'd informed. In her letter, she did not mention anything about coming home. All she said was that they were going to read the will and she wanted to be around being the only daughter. After this, she stopped writing and even when I wrote she never bothered to reply my letters.
About eight months after her departure, we started hearing rumours that my wife was expecting a child believed to be my friend's own. London is a small place and so also the Nigerian community, and news whether true or false got around very fast. Again, I tried to get in touch with my wife without much success. Eventually, I got in touch with my younger brother who informed me that it was true that my wife was pregnant but that they don't really know much about it as she seldom visited any member of my family. She was staying in her family house on Lagos Island, I learnt. I was having a hard time coping with the children and my work. But somehow I managed. I had to take all three of them to a foster parent and only visited them every weekend so I could concentrate on my work.
I found it difficult to accept the rumours initially, but when my friend too did not return to England and they were always said to be seen together in Nigeria, I was forced to start believing the stories as facts. The fact that my friend was not married at the time too, made me come to a conclusion. Then, we heard that the baby had been born and that it was my friend's family that came to name the baby and that she had also moved into my friend's house. I had no choice but to resign to my fate.
My friend never tried to get in touch with me. The story being peddled was that the two had become lovers on the ship and that was when she had taken in for the child. It took me three years to plan my home coming. I just had to see her with my eyes. It wasn't as if I didn't believe all that I'd been told, it was just that I felt I would be more at ease if I saw them with my own eyes. I found all the stories weird. I wanted to ask so many questions like, how could she stoop so low, what would happen to the children, didn't she care about them at all. Up till today, I still can't figure out why she did it.
Just as I'd been told, my wife was pregnant with their second child, and they were also living together when I came home. She broke down crying like all women do when they are caught in the act. It was the work of the devil, she claimed. Their neighbours were curious to know what was going on. I believe that they must have been hearing some gossips too about the circumstances of their so called marriage. I never set eyes on my friend until I went back to England. That was in 1971, I was still in England when I heard about his death in 1980. She had bore him three children and still lived in their family house.
Later, I heard that she began having problems with his family and she moved out to rent a room in Ijeshatedo, a suburb of Surulere. I saw her a couple of times after I returned home in 1984. As the years went by, she began communicating with the children more often and they were able to make some reconciliation eventually. She has a good relationship with the first child, a girl. The two younger boys are not too comfortable with her, but I know that they are also in touch and do send her money from time to time.
Lots of men are living with prostate cancer today— which is a whole lot better than dying from it. If the cancer is caught while still localised within the prostate, experts believe the chances of it killing you within the following five years are practically nil. However, if the cancer spreads, your chances of surviving five years may be as low as one in three. For this reason, scientists have been desperate to identify factors that help cause prostate cancer to spread. These include:
Eggs and poultry: Harvard University researchers recruited more than 1,000 men with early-stage prostate cancer and followed them for several years. The results were astonishing. Compared with men who rarely eat eggs, men who ate even a small part of an egg a day appeared to have twice the risk of their prostate cancer spreading— for instance, into the bones. The only thing potentially worse than eggs was poultry. Another trial found that men with more aggressive cancer who regularly ate chicken and turkey had up to four times the risk of prostate cancer progression.
Scientists suggest that the link between consuming poultry and cancer spread may be due to carcinogens in cooked meat. For unknown reasons, these carcinogens build up more in the muscles of chickens and turkeys than in those of other animals. But what about eggs—how could eating less than one a day double the risk of cancer spreading? The reason may be choline, a compound found in eggs. Indeed, higher levels of choline in the blood have been associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer in the first place. Another study discovered that men who consumed two-and-a-half or move eggs per week —basically an egg every three days—may have an 81 per cent increased risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Milk: It contains growth hormones designed by Mother Nature to put a few hundred pounds on a baby calf within a few months. But are they good for us? Leading Harvard University nutrition experts have warned that the hormones in doing products could stimulate the growth of hormone—sensitive tumours—such as prostate cancer. Not only that, but experimental evidence suggests that doing may also promote the conversion of pre-cancerous lesions or mutated cells into invasive cancers. To date, there have been 14 studies in which organic cow's milk was dripped into human prostate cancer cells in a laboratory Petri dish. In each experiment, the milk stimulated the growth of human prostate cancer cells, producing an average increase in growth rate of more than 30 per cent.
In contrast, almond milk suppressed the growth of the cancer cells by more than 30 per cent. What happens in a test-tube or Petri dish, though, doesn't necessarily happen in people. Nevertheless, a compilation of studies has concluded that cow's milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer. But, you may be wondering, if you can't drink milk, what will happen to your bones? Doesn't milk help prevent Osteoporosis? It turns out that the promised benefit may be just another marketing ploy. An analysis of many studies shows no significant protection. Even if you were to start drinking milk during adolescence in an attempt to bolster peak one mass, it probably wouldn't reduce your chances of fracture later in life.
Can you reverse prostate cancer?
Experts believe eating a varied plant-based diet, and avoiding all meat, fish, chicken and dairy products—may have much to recommend it, but it's certainly not for everyone. With this in mind, a group of researchers at the University of Massachusetts did a study on prostate cancer patients who agreed to get only half their protein from plant sources. Happily, this half-vegan diet did, indeed appear to slow down the growth of cancer. Instead of doubling in size within 21 months, their tumours took 58 months to grow to the same dimensions. So, even tweaking your daily diet is well worth the effort.
Half a serving a day of broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower or kale, for instance, can cut the risk of cancer progression by more than half. For another study, a research team recruited 93 men with prostate cancer who had chosen not to undergo conventional treatment. One group wasn't given any diet or lifestyle advice. The other prescribed a strict diet centred of fruit, vegetables,
whole grains and bears, and told to walk 30 minutes a day. Cancer progression was then tracked using PSA levels (a protein in the blood.) So what happened? In the people who did nothing, PSA levels increased by 6 per cent in a year. That's what cancer tends to do—grow over times. But healthy-living group, PSA levels decreased by 4 per cent, suggesting their tumours were shrinking.
A year after the study ended, the cancers in the control group patients had grown so much that 10 per cent of them needed surgery. By contrast, none in the plant-based diet and life-style group ended up on the operating table. Does that mean men suffering from prostate cancer merely need to change their diets? No—it is not recommended that they ignore medical advice. They have nothing to lose and much to gain however, by also changing what they eat. Other research has shown that the blood of people on plant-based diets are able to fight cancer eight times better than the blood of people of a typical Western diet.
But what if the benefits are down to exercise? To find out, a research team compared three groups of men: a plant-based diet and exercise group, an exercise— only group and a group of sedentary people eating standard fare. Would people who exercise hard enough and for long enough develop cancer-fighting abilities that rival that of strolling plant-eaters? To find out, blood from each of the groups was dripped onto human prostate cancer cells growing in Petri dish. Well, the blood of the sedentary lot wasn't completely danceless. Even if you're a chip-eating couch potato, your blood may still be able to kill off 1 -2 per cent of cancer cells.
But the blood of those who had exercised strenuously for 15 years killed 2,000 per cent more cancer cells than the blood of the couch potatoes—a fantastic result. Even better was the blood of those in the plant-based diet and moderate exercise group, which wiped out an astounding 4,000 per cent more cancer cells than that of the blood of the couch potatoes. In other words, thousand of hours in the gym appeared to be no match for a plant-based diet.
Giving your confidence a boost
In her book: How to shine in a crowd, Susan Roane gives the following strategies to help you work the room when you find yourself alone in a huge crowd, where no face looks familiar.
The entrance: There is no such thing as being 'fashionably late' for a meeting. Arrival is based on the start of the event, not making a conspicuous entrance. Take a deep breath, stand tall and walk in. If you stand in the door-way, people think you're scared.
Give the room a quick once-ever. Check out the bar, the food, where most people are congregating. "One man I know who has difficulty talking to people always positioned himself between the door and the … buffet," says Susan. "Everyone has to walk by him to get to the food and he is always surrounded by people".
First contact: Look around for people you know. If you see someone who looks even vaguely familiar, go and introduce yourself. Only two things can happen—either you'll be right and renew an acquaintance, or you'll meet someone new to chat to.
Use your friends: One of the main advantages of going to an event with a friend is that you can introduce one another around the room. You will know people he or she doesn't and vice-versa. Give people enough information about your friend and be positive. If neither of you know anyone, split up and start chatting until you do.
Get moving: If you are on your own and don't recognize anyone, do not be tempted to melt into the wall. Look out for what Susan calls the "hard knuckle drinker." They are clutching their cup or glass so tightly that their knuckles are really hard. They're scared to death and they're always alone. They will usually welcome your conversation because it saves them from anonymity.
Opening lines: Don't hang around waiting to make the perfect opening gambit. Even if what you say isn't going to bring the house down, do not lose the chance to start a conversation. The best opener may just be a smile and the word, 'Hello', other areas for easy comment are the event, the food, the organization, the traffic, even the weather. Avoid negative comments such as: "The food looks pathetic," because people will think you are a whiner.
Veteran actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, popularly known as RMD has always been an admirable specie when it comes to the world of make-believe. In fact, since his dramatic return to his first love-acting after a long absence due to his romance with politics, RMD has been very busy, jumping from movie set to another and making his relevance felt in the industry again.
Mofe-Damijo
This thespian took time out of his busy schedule to counsel those he calls his "Interns and Mentees to be,"on his Instagram page. In a short but precise message, he posted on his Instagram page, RMD described himself as "a product of God's mercy and an embodiment of imperfections." He advised them to learn to keep their heads up, drawing instances from his story. "Dear Interns and Mentees to be. Thank you for your kind validations by constantly expressing your desire to have me as your mentor. Like I've said before, I am genuinely happy to mentor but I am extremely petrified at the great confidence and child like trust most of you have for me. I feel like a fraud when I see comments and get DMs telling me how perfect I am because I am far from even being good, I have taken too many wrong turns and from time to time still do. I am just a man forgiven by mercy, saved by grace and kept by love (God -1John 4: 8). I have made mistakes I should be ashamed but for the grace of God that covers it all," he wrote.
Continuing, he said, "I do not see myself as the perfect role model and worry about how disappointed and betrayed you will feel if you eventually find out I am just another embodiment of imperfections. I come from a sincere place of no pretence or self righteousness but from a place of willingness to try and be the reason you hopefully turn out better than I did.
If you're here and still willing to be my mentee, then wait for it. February is the month in which the wheels of our dreams will take their first turn. I look forward to what the month brings. Keep your heads up."
U.S. will on Feb. 13 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria for a provision of $160,000 ( 36million) grant to help in the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage.
A statement by the U.S Embassy in Abuja on Friday stated that U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington would sign the MoU.
The MoU would help Nigerian institutions improve conditions for storage of its cultural facilities.
Symington is expected to sign the MoU with the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, National Museums and Monuments and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
"The MoU will push for the preservation of available Nigerian cultural heritage.
"The grant will enable the institutions to improve the conditions and access to the collections storage areas of 10 Nigerian museums," the embassy said.
Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has been handed an ambassadorial role by the game's global governing body FIFA. "Now it's official," the 1986 World Cup winner said on his Facebook page on Thursday.
"Finally I can fulfil one of the lifelong dreams; to work for a clean and transparent FIFA alongside people who really love football."
The ex-Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona forward, 56, was a harsh critic of disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is serving a six-year ban for ethics violations.
The world body is recovering from the worst graft scandal in its history, with dozens of people, including ex-FIFA executive committee members, indicted in the United States since May 2015.
Maradona, who has 91 caps, has been invited back into the FIFA fold thanks to a warm relationship with Blatter's successor Gianni Infantino, who was elected in February last year.
The Federal Government has attributed the delay in raising one billion dollars Eurobond to fund the 2016 budget to late implementation of the 2016 budget.
The Ministry of Finance in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Mr Salisu Dambatta said that the 2016 budget spending cycle had been extended to the end of March 2017 to accommodate the lateness.
Newsmen report that the Federal Government recently announced its newly established one billion dollars Global Medium Term Note programme.
The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.875 per cent and will mature on Feb. 16, 2032 with a bullet repayment of the principal.
The government intends to use the proceeds of the Notes to fund capital expenditures in the 2016 budget.
The Notes represent the country's third Eurobond issuance, following issuances in 2011 and 2013.
The Notes were approximately 8 times oversubscribed with orders in excess of 7.8 billion dollars compared to a pre-issuance target of one billion dollars demonstrating strong market appetite for Nigeria.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun said the Eurobond that was secured this week and the AfDB, secured late 2016, would continue to be used to fund capital projects identified in the 2016 budget.
"The government's debt strategy has been well defined and approved by the National Assembly.
File: Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun
We are focused on re-balancing our debt profile to ensure we have longer term debt that can be used to fund infrastructure development.
You can expect to see us continue to raise international funds over the coming two years as we work toward an optimal debt profile,'' she said.
Giving the advantage of raising Eurobonds to domestic borrowings or borrowing from other external sources like World Bank or China, Adeosun said that the interest rates were cheaper.
"We have borrowed one billion dollars over a 15-year period, with an annual coupon of 7.875 per cent.
"That compares to an average Naira borrowing rate of 15 per cent.
The international capital markets are a key source of capital for us, and our sovereign issuance provides a key benchmark for corporate borrowers looking to tap the ICM.
Ultimately, we want to achieve an optimal mix of borrowing from the ICM and other external sources, including concessional funding from the World Bank and China as part of the 2017 budget process,'' she said.
Adeosun said that apart from borrowing, the Federal Government was serious about expanding the tax base to generate added revenue to critical infrastructure projects.
She said that Nigeria's tax contribution to Gross Domestic Product was currently only six per cent and one of the lowest anywhere in the world.
According to her, it reflects decades of the populations' unwillingness to contribute to government revenue, often because they don't believe the money will be spent appropriately, or for their own good.
"That is the situation we have to change, and it is why we spent so much of 2016 re-structuring the way government collects, allocates and spends money.
We have to build confidence in that process, if we are to attract the kind of tax base that can deliver increased government revenue.
We believe that if we show Nigerians things can be done differently, then we can rebuild the social contract with citizens to pay their fair share of taxes.
"We are already beginning to deliver on this, with a focus on improved customs collections, including migration to a single window.''
According to Adeosun, the government is aware that people are looking for quick fixes to cushion the current bite of recession, and promised that the social intervention programmes will tackle such
Operator of the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, Primero Transport Services Limited, has announced plans to commence implementation of what it called "marginal increase" in its transport fares this month due to rising cost of operation.
Managing Director of Primero Transport Services, operator of BRT along Ikorodu, CMS corridor, Mr. Fola Tinubu, said the organization was constrained to introduce the increment owing to economic recession which had shot up every cost of operation.
Tinubu disclosed that in November 2015, BRT buses moved a total number of 2,610,30 passengers with an increase in number each month to December 2016, where 4,5788, 48 passengers boarded BRT. The total ridership from November 2015 to December 2016 recorded 42,551,118.00.
He said despite the current situation in the country the organization was prepared to increase capacity in order to accommodate the expected increase in number of patronage in 2017.
However, on the proposed increment in fares, Tinubu said, "We are going to increase our fares across the corridor by February. This is due to economic condition in the country which is beyond our control.
"Our cost of operation has gone up astronomically. We were buying diesel last year for N120 per litre but this year it is N260 per litre. The tyres we were buying for about N70,000 per one is now N140 each, while all the spare parts for the buses are imported.
"We have no choice other than to continue buying them. If we must sustain our operation to Lagos masses who have been enjoying our services we have to introduce this increment which is just a marginal increase. We just have to find a way to make the BRT work.
"It is quite unfortunate that we found ourself in this situation which is beyond our control to still keep the present pricing going. We are appealing to residents to bear with us as everything is being done to make sure it will not be a burden to their pocket. It will not be as high as the usual commercial yellow buses," he stated.
Residents of government Housing Estates in Lagos state have counted their losses as government agents embarked on removal of illegal structures identified to be in violation of state environmental law.
Meantime, Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the Lagos State Building Investment Co-operation, LBIC, to halt the proposed demolition of structures by in Ijaiye Housing Estate, Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos State pending the investigation by the house Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development over the proposed demolition.
The demolition came three months after a similar exercise in Jakande Estate where the Secretary of Jakande Estate Landlord Association, Mr. Toba Johnson, claimed that about 12,000 shops were demolished and about 20,000 traders displaced.
It was gathered that the state government, through the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, had earlier issued an ultimatum for the removal of all the illegal structures as failure to do so would attract forceful demolition.
The government argued that the structures were in violation of the Estate's Master Plan, and, should be removed to restore the original master plan of the estate drawn over 20 years ago.
One of the affected traders, Mrs. Rosemary Nwachukwu, claimed that abatement letter was served at a very short notice and she had no other place to go.
She lamented that; "Though, we thank the state government for giving us the opportunity to remove our structures by ourselves but we have invested so much on erecting the structures. We have lost so much in this exercise at this time of hardship in the economy."
Also, in a similar exercise at Ojokoro Housing Estate, Meiran, over 300 shop owners who are mostly retirees from the state government were affected.
It was gathered that in order to beat the the government's ultimatum, affected people embarked on evacuation of their property including roof tops and other accessories.
Some of the affected residents who spoke to Vanguard accused the state government of taking away their means of livelihood, even as the economic recession bites harder on citizens.
Olalekan, with tears in her eyes, lamented, "we are helpless as senior citizens of this country. We are mostly state government retirees. This is what we are managing to keep ourselves alive and our children. The structures are not obstructing any plan other than that the government claims that it is against the Master Plan of the Estate. At this time of economic recession this is absolutely unfair and insensitive of the government.
”There is no plan for markets inside the estate so how do we get access to petty goods and households stuff. Do we have to trek a whole distance to markets to get all these items? Government should have a rethink. Some of us are the breadwinners of our family, so, now that they have asked us to move away from our means of livelihood, where do we go from here."
A 27-year-old woman, Justina Dusu, on Friday told a Jos High Court that her boyfriend, Stephen Luka, got her pregnant and when confronted, butchered her and killed her sister.
Dusu, a resident of Foron, Barkin-Ladi Local Government of Plateau, who stood as a witness, testified against the accused, Stephen Luka, of Tudun Wada, Jos, who is being tried over murder, assault and sexual abuse.
Newsmen report that the accused, who has denied the allegations, is also facing a charge of attempted murder.
The accused was alleged to have attacked the two sisters on July 27, 2016 at his home, in Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, Jos, after they went to confront him over Justina's pregnancy.
Dusu, who is heavily pregnant, told the court, in her testimony, that the accused person, with whom she had been in a relationship since 2007, got her pregnant last year.
"I met Stephen on Dec. 2 2007, while I was still in secondary school. I later left to Abuja, but came back to Jos in May 2016.
"We met on my return and he invited me to his place sometime in June 2016, where he had sex with me.
"I later realised I was pregnant and called his attention to it; he told me he was not ready to be a father and suggested an abortion which I promptly rejected.
"I told him I would rather give birth to the baby and give to my parents than have an abortion.
"On July 25, I told my sister, late Simi Dusu, about the pregnancy and Luka's idea of an abortion.
"She tried to reach him on phone without success and we decided to go to see him in his house.
"On July 27, we took a cab to his house, when I sighted him, we alighted and followed him to the house.
"He didn't deny the pregnancy, but said that he was not ready to be a father, and that his parents had already chased him out of the house.
"While we were discussing, my sister stepped out to receive a phone but before she returned, he started hitting me on my head.
"When I started screaming, my sister tried to enter, but he locked the door. She forced the door open and he descended on her with a machete and killed her.
"He again returned to me and kept hitting me; I only regained consciousness at the Hwolshe Medical Centre, Jos, and received the news that my sister had died," she told the court.
She denied engaging in a fight with her sister over Stephen as alleged by the defense counsel, and described that allegation as a "lie".
Another witness, Rifkatu Yusuf, who is a sister to the deceased, denied the possibility of a fight between the deceased and Justina,
She said that she did not know Luka until he called her to meet him at the hospital over her sister's condition..
After taking the witnesses, the prosecutor, Muleng Alex, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to another date, citing the long hours already spent on taking witnesses, a move the defense counsel did not object.
The judge, Justice Nafisa Musa, adjourned the matter to Feb. 28, for continuation of hearing.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday held an airport reception for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
Governor Wike was supported by his Deputy, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, political leaders of Rivers State and officials of the Federal Government.
Prominent among those who witnessed the airport reception are: Former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, Former Deputy Speaker of the House Representatives, Rt Hon Austin Opara, Former United Bank For Africa, Chief Ferdinand Alabrara and Former Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Desmond Akawor.
Gov. Wike holds airport reception for acting president, Yemi OsinbajoGov. Wike holds airport reception for acting president, Yemi OsinbajoGov. Wike holds airport reception for acting president, Yemi OsinbajoGov. Wike holds airport reception for acting president, Yemi OsinbajoGov. Wike holds airport reception for acting president, Yemi Osinbajo
Others include: Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Heineken Lokpobiri , Former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva and service commanders
After the reception formalities, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo held a brief meeting at the sidelines.
The Acting President thereafter departed to Bayelsa State in a Presidential Helicopter for a meeting with stakeholders in that state.
Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected to visit Rivers State on Monday in continuation of his consultation with stakeholders in the Niger Delta.
The Chief Imam of Area 10 Abuja Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi has advised husband to ensure satisfaction of their wives sexual needs in order to prevent immorality.
Al-Yolawi gave the advice while during his Jumma'at Sermon titled: "The Duties and Responsibilities of Husband and wife in Islam, "on Friday in Abuja. According to him, there are certain men, who after marriage do not satisfy the sexual needs of their wives.
"Such people are great sinners and will be convicted in the sight of Allah.
"Husbands have a duty to satisfy their wives' minimum sexual requirements so that they may not commit a sin by eyeing other men in order to quench their thirst.
"Allah, the most high, has granted women the right to conjugal relations with their husbands, "Al-Yolawi said.
The cleric admonished husbands to value their wives and never appreciate the beauty of other woman in the present of their wives.
"This may lead to jealousy and suspicion in the mind of the wife. She would think that her husband has some feelings or relationship with that woman.
"This thought is a poison that kills matrimonial relations and should be avoided, " he said.
He said that in order to maintain peace and prosperity in the home, both wife and the husband should respect and take care of each other's opinions and emotions.
He said that the anger of husband brings to the wife nothing but tension, depression and confusion, adding that the anger of the wife brings to the husband nothing but disappointment.
"This can lead to mental torture, frustration and bitterness," he said.
The cleric, therefore, advised couples to be patient and compassionate in their dealings and urged husbands to always express their full confidence and trust in their wives.
"To prove this, husbands should hand over the house keep to their wives so that they may feel dignified and involved.
"Prophet Muhammad said that the woman is the guardian and caretaker of her husband's house and Almighty Allah will require an account from her in this regard on the Day of Judgment.
"This will give the husband an opportunity to freely think of other things regarding the promotion, growth development and progress of his career or business."
Similarly, the cleric urged husbands to take responsibility over financial obligations of their wives, which include dowry, feeding clothing, accommodation and general spending.
He also appealed to those that married more than one wife to be just, fair and show equality between co-wives and treated them in a decent, kind, love and respectful manner.
By Soni Daniel, Abuja Details of how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recivered about $10 million from a former Chief Exercutive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, emerged Friday.Yakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slum
Vanguard learnt that given the nature of the effort required to track and recover the huge sum of money hidden by the former GMD, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, the EFCC had to carry out what it called a “Special operation” conducted by its man on 3rd February, 2017 on a building in Kaduna belonging to Yakubu.
Although the agency did not say how it stormed the building, it was gathered that the huge sum of money was hidden in a fire-proof safe and kept in an unexpected building.
But when the safe was opened by the EFCC operatives, what they found shocked the team.
An EFCC operative said that the operation yielded a staggering sum of $9,772,800 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seven Two Thousand, Eight Hundred United States Dollars) and another sum of £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) cash.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the discovery.
‘The surprise raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.
“On arrival at the facility, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.
“When the safe was opened it was discovered that it contained the sum of $9,772,800 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Eight Hundred United States Dollars) and another sum of £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling).
It was learnt that it was on the strength of the finding that Yakubu was invited to the EFCC on February 8, 2017 for questioning during which he admitted ownership of the cash.
Yakubu reportedly told EFCC investigators that the cash was given to him by an unnamed donors, a development that infuriated the interrogators.
A top source confirmed that Dr. Yakubu had since been detained by the EFCC to enable him to speak up on how he came about the huge cash and what it was meant for and why.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the former GMD was with the EFCC and currently assisting the investigation.
Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the Federal Government’s plan to secure Eurobond which re-payment would last till 2032, as act like that of the Biblical prodigal son, expressing the fear that the loan may plunge the nation into pro-longed economic misery. Fayose
The governor, who challenged the federal to government make clarification as to the beneficiaries of the bond, stating whether it would be both the federal government and the federating units or federal government alone, added that; “questions must also be asked on repayment of the Eurobond because deductions from what should accrue to the federation account on a bond to be taken by the federal government for its own use only.”
In a statement issued on Friday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said; “What I’m even worried about and which they must explain to us is that you cannot get a bond without committing it to the source.
“Is the repayment going to be made by direct deductions from Nigeria’s crude oil sales or from federal government share from the federation account?
“If it is going to be made directly from proceeds of crude oil accruing to Nigeria as a country, then the bond belongs to the federal, state and local governments and not federal government alone.
“The federal government is just one of the federating units making up Nigeria and revenue accruing to the country cannot be used to repay bond taken by the federal government for its own use alone.
“The federal government must therefore tell Nigerians how it intends to repay the facility from now till 2032. If it is going to be through direct deductions from revenue accruing to Nigeria, such that money would be taken from source which would not be part of the accruers to the central body, it means the $1 billion bond belongs to Nigerians and it must be shared among the federating units.
“So, we have to find out and take steps. It is either they bring the money and we share it; we take our percentage and they take theirs. The federal government cannot take that money and take it from source and tell us that the money, which belongs to all of us federating units, is its.”
Speaking further, Governor Fayose said; “Fiscal federalism is not manifesting in the agenda of this government. The way they are running the affairs of this country is shrouded in secrecy.
We will definitely go to Court and ask questions.”
Expressing the fear that the $1 billion Eurobond may plunge the nation into more seriuos economic woes as its repayment was sheduled to last till 2032. Fayose said: “the APC government is behaving like the prodigal son who asked for his inheritance and spend it lavishly.
“It is a prodigal government who wants to destroy this country. The rate at which they are taking loans which would keep this country indebted till 2032 is quite unfortunate.
“Currently our currency has been badly devalued to N500 to a Dollar. So, how do we pay back the Dollar? They went to tie the money to the source; the accruers outside the country where crude oil revenue goes.
“Apparently, they don’t care what happens tomorrow. They said they want to use the money to fund 2016, 2017, 2018 budgets which means after they are gone, the country can go into blazes and our children’s children can wallop in indebtedness. How can you appreciate that?
“This rate of borrowing would lead this country into serious challenge.
At this same time, they are saying we should save for the raining day. I just want our people to know that the APC government is taking us to another side of life, one is to destroy our economy, the other is death.”
Former Special Assistant to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on electronic media, Reno Omokri has said that under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government, a total of 14 airlines have fled the country. He said to this end, the move to takeover Arik airline by the federal government will further run the airline aground.
He however advised the Federal Government against turning itself to an undertaker and torturing businesses, especially those facing challenges but should rather nurture them to stand firm.
Omokri gave the advise in a series of tweets on Friday.
Omokri
According to him, AMCOM has not managed previous businesses it took over from their owners and as such, should not take over the management of Arik Airline.
With what’s been done to Arik, the Nigerian Govt wants to turn itself to an undertaker for businesses in the country #ReturnArikToItsOwners
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has elaborated on how its operatives stumbled on the $9.8 million loot recovered from Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Earlier report had estimated the loot at $9.2million. But the Commission said it is $9.772,800.
The commission said a special operation conducted by its operatives on 3rd February on a building belonging to Yakubu in Kaduna yielded the staggering sum and another £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) cash.
Andrew Yakubu, ex-NNPC GMD: says loot was a gift by 'unknown persons'
The huge cash was hidden in a fire proof safe.
The surprise raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna. Sabon Tasha is a poverty stricken area of the capital.
On arrival at the facility, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.
Yakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slum
"When the safe was opened it was discovered that it contained the sum of $9,772,800 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Eight Hundred United States Dollars) and another sum of £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling).
Yakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slum
On February 8, 2017, Andrew Yakubu reported to the Commission's Zonal office in Kano and made statement wherein he admitted ownership of the recovered money, claiming it was gift from unnamed persons. He is currently assisting the investigation.
A caterer, Ayodele Oluwakemi, on Friday prayed an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her four-year-old marriage because her husband forced her to terminate three pregnancies.
She said that there was also no love lost between her and her husband, Famurewa Oladimeji.
Oluwakemi, 28, residing at No. 5, Adekanbi Taylor Close, Okeira in Ogba, near Lagos, also stated that her husband was irresponsible and did not care for her and their three-year-old daughter.
The petitioner also told court that her husband abandoned her and the daughter.
"My husband lies a lot. Initially, when I met him, he lied that he was working, which I found out later was all lies.
"Whenever I ask him for money, he keeps giving me excuses and refuses to drop money.
"Later, I became pregnant for him and my husband forced me to abort it, saying he was not ready financially."
Oluwakemi disclosed that she had aborted three pregnancies on the insistence of the respondent, whom she described as highly irresponsible and lazy.
"He never had an apartment of his own and kept collecting money from me until I insisted he got a proper job or business.''
The petitioner said that when she conceived of their only child, her father refused her husband's marriage proposal, until he got an apartment of his own.
"Whenever I call him, he always told me that he will call me back, which he never did," the estranged woman said.
She begged court to terminate the marriage, saying that she wanted to move on with her life and also wanted the respondent to be responsible for the upkeep of their child.
Oladimeji, 34, a businessman, however denied the allegations but said that he no longer loved Oluwakemi, pleading with court to dissolve the marriage.
He alleged that when Oluwakemi took in for him, her father threatened to kill him.
"I accepted to take up responsibility when my wife became pregnant. My family and I went with the marriage proposal but her father refused to attend to us.''
Oladimeji said that he felt his wife's father refused his proposal because he didn't have a good job.
"My wife's parents do not accord me the proper respect as their daughter's husband. They disregard me and call me all sorts of names.''
He said that his father-in-law had prevented him from seeing his child.
"My father in-law threatened me to stay away from my wife and also stopped me from seeing my child.''
The President of the court, Mr Phillips Williams, admonished the estranged couple and scolded the petitioner for terminating three pregnancies. Williams adjourned the case till Feb. 28 for hearing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has elaborated on how its operatives stumbled on the $9.8 million loot recovered from Andrew Yakubu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Earlier report had estimated the loot at $9.2million. But the Commission said it is $9.772,800.
The commission said a special operation conducted by its operatives on 3rd February on a building belonging to Yakubu in Kaduna yielded the staggering sum and another £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) cash.
The huge cash was hidden in a fire proof safe.
Yakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slumYakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slumYakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slumYakubu, ex-NNPC GMD hides $9.8m loot in Kaduna slum
ABUJA – Trial Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, deferred ruling on motion seeking to quash treason charge against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, till March 1.
Nnamdi Kanu arrive the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, June 20, 2016.
Aside Kanu who has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom, the motion is equally seeking to free three other pro-Biafra agitators also on trial before the court- Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The defendants are answering to 11-count charge bordering on their alleged involvement in acts of treason and terrorism.
They had through their respective lawyers, urged the court to not only quash the charges, but to also discharge and acquit them.
Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television made his application on a day he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of committing treasonable felony against Nigeria.
He made reference to the December 31,1983 military coup that led to the installation of Buhari as Head of State.
The said coup ousted the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari.
The defence team led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Maxwell Okpara, queried competence of the charge, insisting there was nothing in the proof of evidence before the court to support treason allegation against the defendants.
The defendants argued that FG failed to establish a prima-facie case against them to warrant their trial.
In a seven-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Ahmed Sadiya, the defendants, said there was “nothing contained in the proof of evidence to show that IPOB, people merely exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, is an unlawful society/organisation”.
Kanu said the only evidence the prosecution attached in support of treason allegation against him was an extra judicial statement he made to the Department of a state Service, statement made by the prosecution witnesses, and highlight of alleged Radio Biafra broadcasts.
He told the court that Radio Biafra was duly registered and operated under the United Kingdom Laws.
However, government lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, in his response, asked the court to dismiss the defendants’ objections which he said lacked substance.
Labaran urged the court to in-line with the provision of section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, refuse the applications and okay witnesses to commence their evidence-in-chief against the defendants.
Justice Nyako who had on January 12 fixed Friday to rule on the motion, however deferred it till March 3, saying it was not ready.
It will be recalled that Kanu had on December 12, threatened that he would in the course of the trial, expose secrets he said would sink Nigeria.
The defendants equally alleged plot by FG to import foreigners to testify against them.
A total of 100, 000 athletes from 27 countries including Nigeria will be participating in the second edition of Access Bank Lagos Marathon billed to hold from 7am to 2pm on February 11, 2017.
64 elite athletes from 26 countries and 102 from Nigeria, as well as 30 special athletes will also be participating in the marathon scheduled to start from National Stadium in Surulere and terminate at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island.
Governor Ambode of Lagos
Addressing a world press conference on Friday at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said adequate preparations have been put in place to ensure a successful event, assuring that the marathon had been designed to be bigger and better than the previous edition.
Governor Ambode, who addressed the briefing alongside President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr Solomon Ogba; Acting President of International Association of Ultra runners, Mr Nadeem Khan; representatives of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and representatives of the sponsors of the event, said all the agencies of government participating in the event have been adequately mobilized, saying that Lagosians should expect the best.
Speaking on the idea behind investing in the marathon, Governor Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Sports and Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Deji Tinubu, said the event was meant to showcase the excellence of Lagos to the world as well as encourage sporting activities among the people.
He said: "We want to show the world that Lagos can be and Lagos can do what it is expected of it as a mega city; we want to show to the world the tourism potentials of Lagos; we want to show to the world that Lagos is safe; we want to show to the world that Lagos can be the choice destination for sports, tourism and entertainment and that is why we are doing this."
While appreciating all the sponsors that partnered with the State Government, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to note that many of the participating athletes have picked up their running kits, while top notch security and logistics arrangement have been put in place.
He also said that the Sole Administrators of the Local Government Areas of the routes of the marathon have also been adequately mobilized, while arrangement for entertainment and fun packs have also been perfected for those not participating in the marathon.
In his remarks, AFN President, Ogba said as the biggest commercial city and very important city in Africa, the Lagos Marathon was designed to be among the top ten marathons in the world, saying that he was indeed happy with the commitment of the present administration in the State led by Governor Ambode towards the marathon.
He said it was a common knowledge that over 10,000 people travel to Lagos per day with no intention of going back and with a lot of attendant pressure on public infrastructure, adding that it was good thing that the government considered the event.
Also, Head of Organizing Committee of the Marathon and Executive Director of Access Bank, Mr. Victor Otoko recalled the success of the last year edition, saying that necessary preparation has been perfected to make this year's edition hugely successful.
He said provisions have been made for a total of 29 water stations along the marathon routes with adequate security to ensure that only the marathoners get access it, while all the special athletes participating in the marathon would be given appearance fees.
Explaining how the Marathon came into being, Project Consultant, Mr Bukola Olopade said Governor Ambode deserved to be commended for his sportsmanship that made it easy for the maiden event to be possible having given approval after presentation on the event.
"Let me specially thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for understanding the context of hosting the event just within two minutes of discussing why Lagos, considered to be the hub of business activities in Nigeria and 5th largest economy in Africa should host the marathon," Olopade said
The Nigerian Army has offered clothing and undisclosed amount of money as succour to Mr Chijioke Orakwu, a physically challenged person, assaulted by two military police officers in Onitsha for allegedly wearing army camouflage.
Orakwu was manhandled by two soldiers on Feb. 7, at New Market Road,
Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, presented the item and cash on Friday.
Musa said that the Army would not condone acts of indiscipline or gross misconduct by any member.
He said that the action of the soldiers did not reflect the attitude of today's soldiers under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Soldiers brutalising a physically challenged man for wearing army fatigue
"Already, those who perpetrated the act have been arrested and tried, and because of the seriousness of the offence, they have been referred to higher authorities for further action.
"The Nigerian Army is seriously concerned about the incident.
"We want to assure Nigerians, particularly the international community that the Nigerian Army has core values and respect for the rights of people," Musa said.
The army spokesman urged the public to view the case as an isolated one, assuring that future assault similar to the Onitsha incident would be treated with serious action.
He said the army volunteered to take Orakwu to hospital but that he refused orthodox medication.
Musa added that the doctors, who examined him physically, confirmed him to be physically fit.
The army spokesman emphasised that the items given to Orakwu were not to compensate him but to show that the Nigerian Army cares and respect rights of individuals.
"All we did was not an issue of compensation but to show Nigerians and the international public that the Nigerian Army is disciplined, responsive and responsible, and that we care," he said.
The Army, he said, had warned against the abuse of military uniforms, saying it remain its policy which the army holds in high esteem.
Also, the Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Idongesit Akpan, assured that such incident would not repeat itself.
The representative of the state government, Dr Victoria Chikwelu, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Army in handling the case.
He said that Gov. Willie Obiano was not in doubt of what the Army would do as regards the disciplinary measures against the perpetrators.
"Obiano has passion for the physically challenged and that is why he appointed one of them as his Special Assistant and also built three special skill acquisitions centres for their use," Chikwelu said.
Chikwelu, who is the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said that the state government had plans to also empower Orakwu at a later date.
Responding, Orakwu, who expressed happiness, commended the army for the kind gesture.
