Supreme court sacks Delta lawmaker, orders salary refund

The Supreme Court on Friday sacked a member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Ugelli North Constituency II, Mr. Edoja Akpodiete.

The apex court ordered him to refund to the state coffers all the salaries and allowances he had collected since he had been occupying the seat since 2011.

It was the first time the Supreme Court would be ordering any person to refund the money earned from office that he or she illegally occupied.

In its lead judgement delivered by Justice Walther Onnoghen, the Supreme Court ordered that Mr. Jenkins Gwede of the Democratic Peoples Party to take over the seat from Akpodiete.

The court held that the Independent National Electoral commission had wrongfully issued the certificate of return to Akpodiete even when it was aware that he had ceased to be the sponsored candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party over 45 days before the state House of Assembly election was conducted on April 26, 2011. Continue..

Jonathan in Jerusalem on pilgrimage

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday for a two-day pilgrimage to Israel.

According to the president’s itinerary, he will observe the Sabbath Day on Saturday at the Wailing Wall, where he will pray privately before going to Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel.

Jonathan will also visit some other Christian holy sites during the pilgrimage.

During the pilgrimage, he will pray for Nigeria at an Interdenominational Church Service with the theme: ‘A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel’.

The progamme of events indicates that other Nigerian Pilgrims will join the president during the service to pray for the well being and progress of the country.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel Davi Obasa received the president on arrival at the David Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv. Continue...

I don’t mind dating a younger man now –Ara

Now single drummer girl, Ara, has said she is ready to give marriage another shot now that she and her once Iceland-based hubby have divorced.

 Ara said she wouldn’t even mind going for a younger guy if he comes around her.

“When I meet the right person and fall in love, I will consider marriage. I really want to fall in love again. I don’t believe in marriage just for its sake. If a younger guy comes up to me, I don’t mind dating the person. I don’t mind marrying somebody who I am older than. I have spoken to a couple of people and they don’t see anything wrong with it. If the person has a mature mind and is committed, then it is not a big deal.”

When asked if she is not looking for somebody who she can control and manipulate, the singer said she is not the overbearing type and she never exhibited such trait in her former marriage.

“I am not that kind of person. I am the most submissive wife. I am ‘mumu’ for love. You can ask my ex, he can tell you. There was never a day I didn’t ask him what I should cook even though I was the breadwinner. I would always ask him what he wanted. And whatever he said, if we didn’t have it, I would jump on an okada and enter the market to go and buy the stuff. I am a hopeless lover,” she said. Continue...

Gunmen kidnap Deziani Alison-Madueke’s sister in Port Harcourt

There are reports that gunmen on Wednesday Oct. 22nd kidnapped the younger sister of Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke. Osio Agama was reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt and taken to an unknown destination. The kidnappers are yet to make contact with the family.

Russia seizes banned EU meat disguised as chewing gum

Russian customs officers are struggling to digest a new smuggling scam after some 600 tonnes of banned meat from Europe were discovered disguised as other items such as chewing gum.Officials in northwestern Russia made the finds in refrigerated containers shipped from Antwerp, Hamburg and Rotterdam, the country’s agricultural safety agency said Friday.“While searching 26 refrigerated containers whose accompanying documents said they contained frozen mushrooms, juice, fruit jellies and chewing gum, they discovered meat and fatback pork produced in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland,” the agency said in a statement.Russia this summer imposed sweeping bans on food products from the European Union in retaliation for tough sanctions imposed on Moscow over its meddling in Ukraine.

Chita Agwu releases wedding invites

Beautiful Nollywood actress, model and Akachawa presenter, Chita Agwu and her Malaysia based fiance, John Maduabuchi have been in the news, not only because of their celebrated engagement but more because of the romantic ways they have been celebrating their new-found love.On Chita’s birthday a couple of months ago, John whisked her away for an exotically romantic celebration in Dubai. On Friday, October 24th Chita woke everyone up with the ultimate news.“ I shall be privileged to have you in one of the auspicious moment of my life. I hereby invite you to my traditional marriage ceremony between Chita Agwu and Johnson Maduabuchi, which takes place on 25th October 2014 in Umuobuna Uburu Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State” she wrote in a Blackberry message

Africa richest woman to expand banking empire to Namibia

 Africa’s richest woman, Angolan Isabel dos Santos, is set to spread her banking empire into neigbouring Namibia, after a banking licence was approved by the country’s central bank.

Bank of Namibia spokesperson Ndangi Katoma said the bank had granted provisional authorisation to Bank BIC Namibia Limited to conduct business as a banking institution in Namibia.

Bank BIC Namibia Limited is a subsidiary of Angolan Bank Banco BIC, which is 42.5-percent owned by Africa’s first woman billionaire, the daughter of Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.Isabel dos Santos, is reported by Forbes to be worth $3 billion.But Katoma warned that Bank BIC Namibia would not be allowed to engage in banking activities with any person in Namibia just yet, “especially soliciting deposits. Continue..

Sammie Okposo bags South-Africa’s biggest gospel awards nomination

Multitalented gospel artiste and Glo ambassador Sammie Okposo has been nominated in this year’s Best of Africa category at the biggest South-Africa gospel music awards, SABC Crown Music Awards. Okposo is the only Nigerian artiste nominated for the awards and in same category with four other revered African gospel artistes, Frank Chimpazi, Shongwe & Khuphuka, Saved Group and Seapour N.

The awards which is in its seventh year will be held at ICC Arena, Durban on 23 November 2014.

Speaking concerning his nomination, Sammie said the nomination came as shock because he was not expecting it. “Firstly, all thanks to God for his grace and excellent spirit. He is the only one that blesses a man and lifts him up. I’m grateful for the nomination but for me it means more hard work. Many years after I won the Kora Awards Best Gospel Artiste in Africa, my works are still much in demand and here is another nomination as the Best of Africa Gospel Artiste. It’s an honour”.

The organisers also announced that Sammie Okposo will be performing at the event scheduled for November 23, 2014 Durban ICC Arena in South-Africa.

 

Nigerian leaders must show Godly character —British MP

A member of the British House of Commons, Lord Paul Boateng, yesterday challenged Nigerian leaders to lead the people in fear of God, show courage, character and de-emphasize greed and corruption for the common good.Boateng gave the charge while delivering a keynote address as a guest speaker at the 5th edition of the annual National Breakfast Prayer organized by the National Assembly in Abuja.He said the current state of affairs in Africa’s most populous nation was due to actions which had gone contrary to the ideals of its founding fathers, who preached and worked for the greatness of Nigeria.He said: “As a little boy in a small neighbouring country of Ghana, when Nigeria came along to join us as an independent state, I remember the words of a great son of Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.“Also known as the Zik of Africa, he gave bond-building and strengthening speech, calling on all compatriots for a concerted effort of leadership, oneness and patriotism.

Jonathan urges Super Falcons to continue African dominance by beating Cameroon

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday urged the Super Falcons “to continue their glorious domination of African women football with another victory’’ by beating Cameroon in Namibia on Saturday.In a statement in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, Jonathan also congratulated the team on their efforts so far.He urged the players “to go all out to continue their glorious domination of African women football with another victory’’.The Falcons will meet Cameroon in the final match of the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday.They had on Wednesday beaten perennial foes South Africa 2-1 in the semi-finals, with the victory also earning them a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.President Jonathan however urged the Falcons not to take it for granted that they will achieve victory against Cameroon. Continue..

Ebola: FG sends 250 experts to Liberia, others

President Goodluck Jonathan has given approval for the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to support Ebola-ravaged countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to build local capacity of health workers to enhance response to the fight against Ebola Virus Disease.

Already, 250 Nigerian experts are set to be deployed in these countries in the next few days. The number will constitute the first phase of the 506 Nigerian volunteers that have been identified and ready for deployment in the West African countries ravaged by Ebola.

The Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, who stated this during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, warned that the transportation of corpses was still banned in Nigeria except proper clearance is obtained from the Ministry of Health. Continue...

Na Wa O! Baby born in Ibadan clutching holy Qur’an

For those who believe in things like this...Nigerian Tribune is reporting that a baby was born recently in Oyo state clutching a pocket-size Qur’an (pictured above).

The baby, who has since been named Ismail, was born in a church at the Oniyanrin area of Ibadan in September, the reports states. A renowned Islamic preacher who the newspaper spoke with said the woman who delivered the baby threw away the object she found in the baby's hand thinking it was something devilish, only for them to later find out it was a pocket-size Qur’an which contained all the 114 chapters in the holy book. It was wrapped in a thread. The preacher said although the Qur’an was small, the lettering inside was readable. Continue..

AY - I Will Do Anything To Keep My Marriage

Popular comedian, Ayo Makun, speaks on divorce syndrome ravaging the entertainment industry and other issues with Punch's GEOFF IYATSE and he took up the issues very frankly.

When they celebrate wedding vows, the entire city seethes. Some take their ceremonies to the Middle East, Europe and America, making offshore wedding a symbol of prestige, to prove that no mountain is too tall for their love to cross. But within a short period, many a much-celebrated holy matrimony crumbles like a pack of cards. Continue...

Patience Jonathan resigns as Bayelsa 'Super' Permanent Sec.

Dame Patience Jonathan has resigned her appointment as 'Super' Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa state Civil service, a position conferred on her in July 2012 by the Governor of the state, Dickson Seriake. Seriake said he gave the appointment to Mama Peace based on her good service to the state and nation.A source in the state Ministry of Education who pleaded anonymity with The Nation confirmed the First Lady's voluntary resignation and said her resignation may likely not be unconnected to her deepening rift with the state governor.  Continue..

Tuface - African queen is like a Set up

The hit song African Queen was 2face’s claim to fame, but the pop star sees it in a different way. In a chat with Showtime,the versatile award-winning artiste says African Queen makes him want to break his own record.

“The thing about songs like African Queen is that they are like a set up. Anything I do now people will always compare it to African queen. That’s the problem when you have a monster hit. So the standard is already high and you have to break your own record” he said.

“I won’t say I want to be as rich as Dangote or Bill gates I want to be able to provide for my family and do whatever I want to do at any time I want to do it” he added.

 

Nigeria slumps to 42 on FIFA ranking

The Super Eagles continue their slow and steady fall having dropped five places in the October FIFA ranking released on Thursday morning.

Nigeria’s senior national team has dropped five places to 42nd in the latest FIFA world ranking released on Thursday.

The African champions were adjudged the 38th best football playing team in the world according to the ranking released earlier in September.

The Eagles are now the ninth-ranked African side behind Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Ghana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Egypt and Senegal following their poor run in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers earlier this month. Continue...

Day a fan ‘embarrassed’ me in USA- Zack Orji

Zack Orji is a veteran actor who has seen all the tricks in the movie industry. Though he recently took up the cloak of a pastor, it doesn’t appear the vineyard of the Lord has taken all the tricks away from him as a consummate thespian .

What have you been up to lately?

I’ve been up to a lot of things. I still act, produce and direct. As a matter of fact, I have a shoot in South Africa this October and thereafter, I have a movie premier in the US and Kenya.

I’ve also been involved in a lot of training; training young actors, training people who are desirous of a career in film-acting, costume designing, cinematography, film production, script writing and post production.

I put together different professionals who are on top of their game in motion picture practice and then create the environment and the platform for young people to be trained in different crafts by these professionals. Continue...

NLC, others threaten strike over national minimum wage rejection

The organised labour on Wednesday threatened to go on strike to protest the decision of the National Assembly to move the minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria said they had rejected the planned deregulation of wages.

They argued that if allowed to succeed, it would be akin to a declaration of war on Nigerian workers and would complicate the already bad security challenges in the country.

They threatened to commence an indefinite strike following the planned exercise.

The NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Esan, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, that the organised labour would resist the move with all the resources at its disposal.

Ozo-Esan said that the NLC had called an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee for Monday to take a final decision on the next plan of action. Continue...

Germany tops FIFA world rankings despite poor form

World Cup winners Germany stay top of the world football rankings published by governing body FIFA on Thursday in spite of making a poor start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Though Joachim Loew’s team have only one win in three Euro qualifiers, they remain ahead of Argentina and Colombia in an unchanged top three.

In the top 10, Belgium leap neighbours Netherlands into fourth, France move up two spots to seventh and Portugal gain two places to ninth.

Uruguay (8th, down 1) and Spain (10th, down 2) both slip but remain in the top 10 while Switzerland have dropped to 12th.

The next ranking will be published on Nov. 27. Continue...

LG launches internet TV

LG electronics recently launched an internet television tagged webOS Smart+TV. The TV has the unique ability to connect users with the wealth of knowledge available on the internet. Yet it grants access to the full potential of the smart TV. The first time the user turns on the webOS-enabled LG Smart TV, an animated character named BeanBird appears onscreen to help get connected and walk the use through the setup process.All the viewer has to do is shake the Magic Remote or press the OK button to receive further advice from the winged virtual facilitator. webOS can instantly recognize when and what kind of external device has been plugged into the TV and brings up a pop-up menu listing all relevant options for the user to choosefrom. Continue..